Semi-Autograph Stichvorlage

The second volume in the series Works by Chopin. Facsimile Edition is a facsimile of the semi-autograph Stichvorlage of the Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, held at the National Library in Warsaw under the shelf-mark Mus. 215 Cim. The volume contains a facsimile of the 173-page manuscript and a source commentary by Professor Jan Ekier.

Chopin composed the F minor Concerto between October 1829 and February 1830. The manuscript of the score is a quite singular document of the composer’s life and work. It is distinguished by the fact that the composer himself wrote out the piano part, whilst the orchestra part was copied out by an unknown musician. This manuscript constitutes the only Chopin ‘semi-autograph’ of such dimensions and musical importance. Yet its unique significance lies, above all, in the wealth of information that it contains, concerning the work itself, the circumstances surrounding its composition, editorial practice during Chopin’s times and other related phenomena – information which allows us to answer certain questions, open the way to the solving of others and determine those problems which will are likely to remain unresolved.