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-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 Most of the other lesser-known works were published only after his death, contrary to his express wishes that all his unpublished manuscripts should be burned.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 must 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Chopin expressed a death-bed wish that all his unpublished manuscripts be destroyed. However, at the request of the composer's mother and sisters, Julian Fontana selected 23 unpublished piano pieces and grouped them into eight posthumous opus numbers (Opp. 66–73).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:
Variations on an Irish National Air (from Thomas Moore)
Piano 4-hands
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
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 and Mazurka
A major, D minor
KK. VIIb/7-8
MS sold Paris 21 November 1974. These two little pieces were not 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 major
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
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
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
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 little 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)
