The recent discovery of a new Frédéric Chopin waltz has reverberated throughout the classical music world, capturing the attention of scholars, performers and audiences alike. Found by researcher Robinson McClellan in a vault at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York, the piece — a waltz in A minor dating to around 1830-35 — has been authenticated by leading Chopin scholars and lauded for its distinctive, dramatic opening and strikingly authentic Chopin style.
For Jon Kimura Parker, professor of piano and chair of keyboards at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, the discovery is both an affirmation of Chopin’s genius and an exciting opportunity to bring something new to his students.
“This is unquestionably by Chopin: The pacing and the style are exactly in keeping with Chopin’s large oeuvre of waltzes,” Parker said. “Most importantly, and a source of great enjoyment to me, are the unexpected chromatic turns throughout. The opening is dramatic and unusually forceful. Once it settles down, Chopin’s characteristic turns of phrase are everywhere.”
Parker, a celebrated pianist who has recorded a collection of Chopin pieces on the Telarc label, said he looks forward to introducing the waltz to his students at the Shepherd School.
“What a thrill!” Parker said.
The significance of the discovery resonates beyond performance. The reaction among Shepherd School faculty has underscored the continued relevance of archival research and the evolving nature of the musical canon.
“This goes to show that the musical canon of European composers and pieces isn’t quite as fixed as we sometimes think,” said Gregory Barnett, professor and chair of musicology. “We’re still sorting through the legacy of these musicians, sometimes helped along by the discovery of a stray manuscript like this one.”
The newfound waltz not only offers a glimpse into Chopin’s life during his Paris years but also enriches the historical record of his compositional style. Its compact structure — only 48 measures with a repeat, clocking in around 80 seconds — defies expectations of length for a Chopin waltz yet brims with dynamic shifts, including an unusually powerful triple forte at the start.
“It’s amazing that a piece by a canonical, beloved composer can be ‘discovered’ after sitting in a library for years — a testament to how important it is to support libraries and research into our cultural past,” said Alexandra Kieffer, associate professor of musicology.
To schedule an interview with Parker, contact Brandi Smith, media relations specialist at Rice, at 713-348-6769 or brandi.smith@rice.edu.