For the first time in more than 90 years, a previously unknown waltz by a renowned 19th-century composer has been uncovered.
Earlier this year, Robinson McClellan, a curator at The Morgan Library and Museum in New York, discovered a manuscript written by Polish composer Frédéric Chopin, according to a news release published by the museum on Monday. The discovery of an unknown work by Chopin hasn't happened since the 1930s.
The manuscript was a part of the Arthur Satz Collection, donated to The Morgan Library and Museum in 2019. When McClellan began cataloging the collection, he came across the manuscript, finding it "peculiar that he could not think of any waltzes by Chopin that matched the measures on the page," according to the news release.
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The manuscript, according to the news release, is about the size of an index card -- 4-by-5 inches. It features 24 noted measures that Chopin asks the pianist to repeat once in its entirety. It is only about one minute in length.
According to the news release, the beginning of the piece is moody and culminates in a loud outburst before a melancholy melody begins. Interestingly, none of Chopin's waltzes start that way.
"Based on other similarly-sized manuscripts by Chopin, it is assumed that it was meant as a gift for inclusion in someone's autograph album," the news release states. "Chopin usually signed manuscripts that were gifts, but this one is unsigned, suggesting that he changed his mind and withheld it."
Upon discovering the manuscript, McClellan consulted University of Pennsylvania Associate Dean for Arts and Letters Jeffrey Kallberg, a Chopin expert. The two worked to verify the manuscript's authenticity by enlisting the help of other Chopin experts and The Morgan's paper conservators, who confirmed that the paper and ink were consistent with those that Chopin used.
"This newly discovered waltz expands our understanding of Chopin as a composer and opens new questions for scholars to consider regarding when he wrote it and for whom it was intended," McClellan said in the news release. "To hear this work for the first time will be an exciting moment for everyone in the world of classical piano."
Prevalent during the Romantic period, Frédéric Chopin was born near Warsaw, Poland in 1810 and died at the age of 39 in 1849. Notable compositions published by Chopin include "Barcarolle in F sharp, Op. 60," "Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35" and "Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23."
According to The Kennedy Center, Chopin began to play the piano at age four and by the time he was eight, he was hosting private concerts in Warsaw. He published his first composition, "Rondo in C Minor, Op. 1" at age 15.
Chopin attended both the Warsaw Lyceum and Warsaw Conservatory -- now the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. Upon completing his education, he moved to Paris, where he taught piano lessons and notably, fell in love with French novelist George Sand.
During the time Chopin and Sand got together, Chopin was just 27 years old and was known as a virtuoso (person of exceptional talent) in piano, according to The Kennedy Center.
In 1847, Chopin began to suffer from tuberculosis, which would be the reason for his death just two years later.
On his deathbed, Chopin made several requests, including that Mozart's "Requiem" be played at his funeral at the Church of the Madeline, according to The Kennedy Center. To meet the request, Chopin's funeral was delayed by nearly two weeks.
Chopin's body is buried in the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, but his heart is stored within a pillar in the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw, as Chopin feared being buried alive and requested that he be "cut open" to ensure he was dead ahead of his burial, according to The Kennedy Center.
Chopin's work has been featured in several films, television shows, commercials and video games over the years.
The 2002 war drama "The Pianist," starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann and Emilia Fox features several of Chopin's compositions. Other films featuring Chopin include the 1945 noir crime film "Mildred Pierce," the 1970 thriller "Five Easy Pieces," Steven Spielberg's 1987 coming-of-age epic "Empire of the Sun" and the 2019 war drama "The King," starring Timothée Chalamet.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.