Miscellaneous compositions (Chopin)

Chopin at 25, by Maria Wodzińska, 1835

The great bulk of Frédéric Chopin's output consists of pieces for solo piano: his ballades, études, impromptus, mazurkas, nocturnes, polonaises, preludes, rondos, scherzos, sonatas and waltzes. There are also the two piano concertos, four other works for piano and orchestra, and a small amount of chamber music.

However, Chopin also produced a number of other compositions, mostly for solo piano, but some for other forces. Some of these are well-known, such as the Barcarole in F-sharp, the Fantaisie in F minor, the Berceuse in D-flat, and some of the 19 Polish songs. Most of the other lesser-known works were published only after his death, contrary to his express wishes that all his unpublished manuscripts should be burned.

While often disregarded in the concert repertoire (particularly the posthumously published works), these miscellaneous works are nevertheless part of his oeuvre and most have been recorded, in some cases numerous times.

Posthumous opus numbers and other catalogue designations

Chopin expressed a death-bed wish that all his unpublished manuscripts be destroyed. However, at the request of the composer's mother and sisters, Julian Fontana selected 23 unpublished piano pieces and grouped them into eight posthumous opus numbers (Opp. 66–73). These works were published in 1855, and include the Fantaisie-Impromptu, 8 mazurkas, 5 waltzes, 3 polonaises, 3 écossaises, a nocturne, a rondo, and a Marche funèbre. In 1857, 17 of Chopin’s Polish songs were published as Op. 74.

Various other works have been subsequently published, but have not been given opus numbers. They are identified by alternative numbers from the catalogues of Maurice J. E. Brown (B), Krystyna Kobylańska (KK), and Josef Michał Chominski (A, C, D, E, P, S).

Extant miscellaneous works

Title Forces* Key Composed Published Opus Brown Kobylańska Chominski Notes
Album Leaf (Feuille d'album); Moderato E major 1843 1910 B. 151 KK. IVb/12
Allegretto F‑sharp major 1829? Reconstruction. Long version spurious, by Charles Mayer
Allegro de concert A major 1841 1841 Op. 46 B. 72 Originally intended to be a third piano concerto
Andante spianato G major 1834 1836 Op. 22 B. 88 Solo piano introduction to the Grande Polonaise
Andantino G minor * B. 117 An arrangement for piano alone of the piano part of the song Wiosna; * 5 MS exist whose dates range from April 1838 to 1 September 1848
Barcarolle F‑sharp major 1846 1846 Op. 60 B. 158
Berceuse D-flat major 1844 1845 Op. 57 B. 154
Bolero C major-A minor 1833 1834 Op. 19 B. 81
Two Bourrées G major, A major 1846 1968 B. 160b KK. VIIb/1-2
Canon F minor 1839 1948 B. 129b KK. IVc/1 Fragment.
Cantabile B-flat major 1834 1931 B. 84 KK. IVb/6 P. 2/6
Three Écossaises D major, G major, D-flat major 1826 1855 Op. posth. 72/3 B. 12
Fantaisie F minor 1841 1841 Op. 49 B. 137
Fugue A minor 1841-42 1898 B. 144 KK. IVc/2
3 Fugues A minor, F major, D minor KK. VIIa/2 Arr. from Cherubini's Cours de contrepoint et de fugue
Galopp A-flat major 1846 KK. IVc/13 P. 2/13 Galop Marquis
Introduction et Variations brillantes sur le Rondeau favori "Je vends des scapulaires" from Hérold's Ludovic B-flat major 1833 Op. 12 B. 80
Klavierstück E-flat major 1840 1955 B.133 KK IVb/10 P. 2/10 Marked simply "Sostenuto"; sometimes classified as a Waltz
Largo E-flat major 1837 1938 B. 109 KK. IVb/5 P. 2/5
Marche funèbre C minor 1827 1855 Op. posth. 72/2 B. 20
17 Polish songs Voice and piano 1827-47 1857 Op. posth. 74 various various
2 Polish songs Voice and piano 1830, 1840 1910 B. 51, 132 KK.IVa/11, IVb/9
Tarantelle A-flat major 1841 1841 Op. 43 B. 139
Variation No. 6 for Hexameron E major 1837 1839 B. 113
Variations on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore) 2 pianos D major 1826 1965 B. 12a P. 1/6 Also known as Introduction, Theme and Variations in D on a Venetian air; Variations sur le Carnaval de Venise
Variations on the air "Der Schweizerbub" E major 1826 1851 B. 14 KK. IVa/4 aka Introduction et Variations sur un Lied allemand
Variations in A, Souvenir de Paganini A major 1829 1881 B. 37 KK. IVa/10

Lost, destroyed, unavailable, doubtful and spurious works

There remain a number of works:

Title Forces* Key Composed Published Brown Kobylańska Chominski Status and Notes
Allegretto and Mazurka A major, D minor KK. VIIb/7-8 MS sold Paris 21 November 1974. These two little pieces weren’t recorded until 1992. Available.
Andante dolente B-flat minor KK. Vb/1 Lost. Copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Contredanse G-flat major 1827 1934 B. 17 KK. Anh. Ia/4 A 1/4 Authenticity not universally accepted. The sole MS is not in Chopin's hand.[1]
Écossaise E-flat major KK. Ve/3 Lost. Two écossaises were in the hands of Oskar Kolberg.
Écossaise B-flat major 1827 KK. Vb/9 Lost. Copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant. It seems this piece is different from the two écossaises belonging to Oskar Kolberg.
3 Marches C-minor, B-flat minor and F minor KK. Vd/1-3 Lost; perhaps includes the Marche funèbre in C minor, Op. posth. 72/2 and the Andante Dolente in B-flat minor ¿?
Marches "early" KK. Vf Lost
Mazurka B-flat minor KK. Anh. Ib Doubtful
Mazurka KK. Ve/8 Mentioned in 1878 correspondence between Breitkopf & Hartel and Izabela Barczinska
Mazurka KK. Ve/6 Mentioned in a note from Augener to C.A. Spina 21 May 1884
Mazurka (Mazurek) D major 1820 1910 B. 4 KK. Anh. Ia/1 A 1/1 Doubtful. Available.
Mazurka D major 1826 KK. Ve/5 Referred to in literature but the MS is unknown
Mazurka 1832 KK. Vc/2 Mentioned in a letter from Chopin dated 10 September 1832
Mazurka 14 September 1832 KK. Ve/7 Listed in an auction catalogue, Paris, 1906
Mazurka G major 22 August 1829 Setting of a poem by Ignaz Macicowski
Mazurkas (several) "early" KK. Vf Lost
Mazurka by December 1846 KK. Vc/4 Mentioned in a letter from Chopin
Mazurka F-sharp KK. Anh. II/1 Spurious; by Charles Mayer (long version). Allegretto is believed by Chopin (short version reconstruction)
Military March ?? 1817 KK. Vd/4 Lost; scoring for military band not by Chopin; dedicated to the Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich
Nocturne (No. 22) a.k.a. Nocturne oublié(e) C-sharp minor KK Anh Ia/6 A1/6 Spurious[2]
Polonaises (several) "early" KK. Vf Lost
2 Polonaises 1818 Lost; presented on 26 September 1818 to the Empress Maria Fyodorovna, mother of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, on the occasion of her visit to Warsaw
Polonaise 1825 KK. Vf Lost; on themes by Rossini (The Barber of Seville) and Spontini; mentioned in a letter from Chopin dated November 1825. It was reported on the lost album of Izabela Grabowska (source: Koptiajev).
Polonaise 1831 (by July) KK. Vc/1 Lost; mentioned in a letter from Chopin to his family
Polonaise 1832 KK. Vc/3 Mentioned in a letter from Chopin dated 10 September 1832
Prelude and Andantino animato F major 1930 KK Anh Ia/2-3 A 1/2-3 Doubtful
2 sacred works ?? by 1846 KK. Va/1-2 Lost; includes Veni Creator
Sonata Piano four-hands 1835 KK. Vc/5 Lost; mentioned in a letter from Chopin to Breitkopf
Song Plotno Voice and piano KK. Vd/5 Lost
Song Voice and piano January 1841 KK. Vc/10 Lost; mentioned in a letter of 9 January 1841
3 songs Voice and piano KK. Vd/6-8 Lost
6 songs Voice and piano KK. Anh. Ic/1 Doubtful
4 songs Voice and ?? various Violin parts only remain
Variations January 1818 KK Ve/9 Lost
Variations Piano 4-hands or 2 pianos F major 1826 KK. Vb/2 Lost. Copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Variations on "Non più mesta" from Rossini's La Cenerentola Flute and piano E major 1824 1955 B. 9 KK. Anh. Ia/5 A 1/5 This work has been attributed to Chopin, but is generally considered spurious.
Variations on a Ukrainian Dumka by Antoni Radziwill Violin and piano 1830 KK. VIIa/3 Lost
Waltz E-flat major 1827-30 1902 B. 46 KK. Iva/14 P. 1/14 Spurious
Waltz (Valse mélancolique) F-sharp minor 1838 1932 KK Ib/7 A 1/7 Spurious
Waltz C major 1824 KK. Vb/8 Lost
Waltz A minor 1824 KK. Vf Lost. It was reported on Izabela Grabowska's lost album. "A delicious waltz dedicated to Countess Lubienska" (source: Koptiajev).
Waltz C major 1826 KK. Vb/3 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz A-flat major 1827 KK. Vb/4 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz (La Partenza) D minor 1828 KK. Vb/6 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz A minor 1829 Discovered 1937; was in possession of H. Hinterberger of Vienna, but now believed destroyed
Waltz A-flat major 1829-30 KK. Vb/5 Mentioned in a letter from Chopin to his family, 21 December 1830; MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz E-flat major 1829-30 KK. Vb/7 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz C major 1831 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Waltz by 1845 KK. Ve/12 Mentioned in diary of L. Niedźwiecki
Waltz B or G major 12 October 1848 B.166 KK. Va/3 MS in private hands and unavailable. According to the National Edition is a G major waltz.
Waltz B-flat major 1849 Discovered 1952; in possession of Arthur Hedley
Waltz KK. Vb/7 Mentioned in letters from Breitkopf to Izabela Barcińska in 1878
Waltz KK. Ve/10 Listed in auction catalogue, Paris, March 1906
Waltzes (several) KK.Vf Lost. There exists a litle fragment of what it seems a G-flat major waltz (1847?)
Several works Violin and piano Lost. Several of them were found on Izabela Grabowska's lost album.
2 works Aeolopantaleon KK. Ve/1-2 Lost. Notes and research on these pieces are found among others in "Jeszcze raz o dwóch nieznanych kompozycjach Chopina na eolipantalion" by Benjamin Vogel (1985)

References

  1. ↑ Chopin Project
  2. ↑ Nocturne Oubliée in C sharp minor at Musopen website
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