Miscellaneous compositions (Chopin)

Chopin at 25, by Maria Wodzińska, 1835

Frédéric Chopin's output mostly consists of pieces for solo piano. 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 Barcarolle in F♯, the Fantaisie in F minor, the Berceuse in D♭, 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 Most of the other lesser-known works were published only after his death, contrary to his express wishes that all his unpublished manuscripts should be burned.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Chopin expressed a death-bed wish that all his unpublished manuscripts be destroyed. However, at the request of the composer's mother and sisters, Julian Fontana selected 23 unpublished piano pieces and grouped them into eight posthumous opus numbers (Opp. 66–73).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:

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 and Mazurka A major, D minor KK. VIIb/7-8 MS sold Paris 21 November 1974. Manuscript in Chopin's hand has "Copié par Chopin" inscribed, implying these are both folk tunes. The Allegretto was used in Liszt's Glanes de Woronince, S249.[1] These two little pieces were not recorded until 1992
Allegro de concert A major 1832-41 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♯ major 1846 1846 Op. 60 B. 158
Berceuse D♭ 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 (Klavierstück) B♭ major 1834 1931 B. 84 KK. IVb/6 P. 2/6
Three Écossaises D major, G major, D♭ major 1826 1855 Op. posth. 72/3 B. 12(b)
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♭ 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♭ major 1833 Op. 12 B. 80
Largo (Klavierstück) E♭ major 1837 1938 B. 109 KK. IVb/5 P. 2/5 Transcription on the national anthem of (Congress) Kingdom of Poland - "Pieśń narodowa za pomyślność Króla" ("National Anthem for the King's Prosperity") from 1816 [2]
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
3 Polish songs Voice (and piano) 22 August 1829, 1830, 1840 1856 (Warsaw), 1910 (Leipzig), 1910 (Lviv) B. 39, 51, 132 KK. IVa/9, IVa/11, IVb/9 Jakież kwiaty (only voice part), Czary, Dumka
Sostenuto (Klavierstück) E♭ major 1840 1955 B.133 KK. IVb/10 P. 2/10 Marked simply "Sostenuto"; sometimes classified as a Waltz (no. 18)
Tarantelle A♭ 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) Piano 4-hands D major 1826 1965 B. 12a KK. IVa/6 P. 1/6 Also known as Introduction, Theme and Variations in D on a Venetian air; Variations sur le Carnaval de Venise. First page for secondary pianist and last page for principal pianist were lost. Various reconstructions exist
Variations on the air "Der Schweizerbub" E major 1826 1851 B. 14 KK. IVa/4 a.k.a. Introduction et Variations sur un Lied allemand
Variations in A, Souvenir de Paganini A major 1829 1881 B. 37 KK. IVa/10
  • * All for piano solo except where otherwise indicated.

Lost, destroyed, unavailable, doubtful and spurious works

There remain a number of works:

  • whose MS are lost, destroyed, or unavailable to researchers; or
  • whose authenticity is doubtful or spurious.
Title Forces* Key Composed Published Brown Kobylańska Chominski Status and Notes
Allegretto (Mazurka) F♯ major 1829? KK. Anh. II/1 Spurious; Found in Leopoldyna Blahetka's album. Oskar Kolberg opinned main theme and development are Chopin's.[3] Long version confirmed by Charles Mayer (Souvenir de Pologne, Mazurka Op. 112). Abridged Allegretto is a short version reconstruction of selected measures believed Chopin's from Op. 112 by Jan Ekier - 1990 Chopin National Edition (WN 36)
Andante dolente B♭ minor KK. Vb/1 Lost. Copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
Contredanse G♭ major 1827 1934 B. 17 KK. Anh. Ia/4 A 1/4 While accepted by the Chopin National Edition (WN 27), authenticity not universally accepted. The sole MS is not in Chopin's hand[4]
Écossaise E♭ major KK. Ve/3 Lost. Two écossaises were in the hands of Oskar Kolberg. Kolberg's letter contains an incipit 6 measures long of the right hand[5]
Écossaise B♭ 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♭ 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♭ minor
Marches "early" KK. Vf Lost
Mazurka B♭ minor KK. Anh. Ib/1 (formally Anh. Ia/8) Doubtful. Found in an album by Walerian Stopnicki held in Jan Tomasz Stopnicki's private collection in Warsaw, according to the catalogue of Krystyna Kobylańska. Only an incipit seven measures long has been published[6]
Mazurka KK. Ve/8 Mentioned in 1878 correspondence between Breitkopf & Hartel and Izabela Barcińska
Mazurka KK. Ve/6 Mentioned in a note from Augener to C.A. Spina 21 May 1884. Dedicated to Mme Nicolai
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
Mazurkas (several) "early" KK. Vf Lost
Mazurka by December 1846 KK. Vc/4 Mentioned in a letter from Chopin
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♯ minor KK. Anh. Ia/6 A 1/6 Spurious[7]
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, D minor 1930 KK. Anh. Ia/2-3 A 1/2-3 Doubtful. Only 4 and 5 measures have surfaced for each piece, respectively. Origin of Prelude is unknown. Andantino manuscript is not in Chopin's hand
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♭ major 1826-1827 1902 B. 46 KK. IVa/14 P. 1/14 Manuscript lost, though music available listed as waltz no. 17. Not accepted as authentic by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute
Waltz (Valse mélancolique) F♯ minor 1838 1932 KK. Anh. Ib/7 (formally Anh. Ia/7) A 1/7 Not by Chopin; first published in 1861, and in 1986 published under the name Valse mélancolique by Stanislaw Dybowski on the bi-weekly "Ruch Muzyczny", but in 2012 discovered by Luca Chierici to be a shortened version of a piece by Charles Mayer named Le Régret, op. 332.
Waltz C major 1824 (1831?) KK. Vb/8 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant
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♭ 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♭ 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♭ major 1829–30 KK. Vb/7 MS destroyed; copy of first line made by Chopin's sister Ludwika is extant. Mentioned in letters from Breitkopf to Izabela Barcińska in 1878
Waltz by 1845 KK. Ve/12 Mentioned in diary of L. Niedźwiecki
Waltz B major 12 October 1848 B.166 KK. Va/3 According to a letter of Arthur Hedley (March 10, 1960), MS in private hands (London) and unavailable
Waltz B♭ major 1849 Discovered 1952; Arthur Hedley claimed to have seen it in a private English collection, according to Jeffrey Kallberg[8]
Waltz KK. Ve/10 Listed in auction catalogue, Paris, March 1906
Waltz KK. Ve/11 Mentioned in letters from Breitkopf to Izabela Barcińska in 1878
Waltzes (several) KK. Vf Lost. There exists a little fragment of what may be a G♭ major waltz (1847?) found on a sketch of Waltz Op. 64/1
Several works Violin and piano Lost. Several of them were found in 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)
  • * For piano solo unless otherwise indicated.

References

  1. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=3M0oe9QDtJM&t=523
  2. ↑ Grzegorz Zieziula (March 2025). "SONATA B-MOLL OP. 35 FRYDERYKA CHOPINA I UKRYTE W NIEJ TREŚCI: DOTYCHCZASOWE HIPOTEZY I NOWE ZNAKI ZAPYTANIA". Ispan. Instytut Sztuki, Polska Akademia Nauk. p. 14. Retrieved 2026-08-10.
  3. ↑ Wieroński, Marek. "Various Compositions – Series B". Bearton. Bearton. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Chopin Project
  5. ↑ Frédéric Chopin: Thematisch-Bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis; Henle, 1979
  6. ↑ Frédéric Chopin: Thematisch-Bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis; Henle, 1979
  7. ↑ Nocturne Oubliée in C sharp minor at Musopen website
  8. ↑ Kallberg, Jeff. "Chopin's 18th Waltz - privately owned". pianoworld.com. Piano World. Retrieved 14 August 2026.
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