I think nobody will deny that Frédéric Chopin is one of the most remarkable and prominent composers of the Romantic period whose ballades, sonatas, mazurkas, waltzes and works in other genres belong to the greatest and priceless musical heritage of mankind.
Some musicologists consider waltzes to be right the most intimate, so to say, “autobiographical” compositions by this genius of piano music. So, I would like to draw your attention to his two waltzes, "Waltz in E Flat Major" and "Waltz in A Minor", not only as they are to my mind masterpieces of astonishing beauty, but also as the history of their creation could be rather interesting for you.
Both manuscripts are stored at the Paris Conservatoire nowadays, but their ways to this location differ from each other. The manuscript of "Waltz in E Flat Major" was granted to the conservatory by Joseph Gaillard, whose father banker Emill Gaillard was Frédéric Chopin’s disciple and close friend. Though it has no dedication on it, we can suggest that the composer gave it to E. Gaillard as he wrote this composition especially for him.
The manuscript of "Waltz in A Minor" was granted by a member of the family Rothschild in 1901. It could be one of the manuscripts given by F. Chopin to Paris Rothschilds, who had had friendly relationships with him since 1832. Baroness Nathaniel de Rothschild was taught by the composer and received as a gift some manuscripts from him. The manuscript is marked with no dedication, date or signature. But some specialists admit the possibility that the waltz could be written during his Polish period. This opinion is backed up with the polish title of the rewritten manuscript – “Walec” or “Walse”. In spite of the fact that Paris Rothschilds possessed the manuscript, musicologists do not eliminate the possibility that it belongs to Chopin’s subsequent works.
Sheet music of these two excellent waltzes are available for download here:
Waltz in E Flat Major
Waltz in A Minor
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