Fryderyk Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21

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A Faithful Reproduction of the Only Complete Manuscript of Chopin's Concerto

mong the numerous treasures housed today in the Polish National Library in Warsaw, there is one musical score that holds a special place in the Polish heart - it is the semi-autograph score of Fryderyk Chopin's F minor Concerto, one of the first major works by the composer, and one of the last to be composed in his homeland. With the piano part being entirely in Chopin's own hand, the manuscript is the only extant manuscript score of his concertos preserved in complete form.

A Lyrical Masterpiece by the Youthful Composer at the Age of 19

Chopin's Concerto in F minor, composed during his final years in Warsaw between October 1829 and February 1830, has enjoyed a high popularity among his repertoire as an early Masterpiece representative of the delicate lyricism typical of the composer. In particular the second movement, which was inspired by his unrequited love for vocalist Konstancja Gladkowska, is counted among one most beautiful pieces of music ever written.

Evacuation during World War II

The manuscript was purchased by the Polish government in 1937 from a German music publisher and was subsequently held in the Polish National Library. In September 1939, under the growing threat of Nazi invasion, the manuscript was secretly transported out of Poland with other invaluable national treasures, first to Paris, then to London where the exiled government was located. To avoid the Blitz, it was further shipped across the Atlantic to Canada, where it was kept in a safe of the Montreal Bank in Ottawa. After the war, the return of the manuscript and other treasures was again delayed due to the conflict between the newly established communist government in Poland and the exiled government in London, and it was not until 1959 that the manuscript was finally returned home to Poland, after 20 years of evacuation.

Commentary Text and Audio CD to Deepen the Experience

A commentary volume written by Professor Jan Ekier, the foremost Chopin authority, accompanies the facsimile edition. The commentary allows the reader to see the manuscript in proper historical context, with scholarly information on the background of the work, its creation process, its distinctive features, and its relation to the published score. Also attached is an audio CD containing a performance of the F minor Concerto by the Polish-born pianist Artur Rubinstein (1887-1982) with the Polish National Philharmonic, recorded in 1960.

Produced with the Highest Technology Available

To match the importance of the national treasure, the most skilled engineers and researchers of Poland were employed in the production of this facsimile edition. To ensure archival quality, the manuscript was first photographed on 4 x 5 film, and then digitalized with state-of-the-art equipment. The colours and details of the proofs were studiously compared to the originals prior to printing. The laid paper used for the facsimile was specially commissioned for the project, and even reproduces the watermark of the original paper. The facsimile score, the commentary and the audio CD are housed together in a special full-leather case, designed by a Polish designer to resemble the closed fallboard of a piano.

• Held in The National Library in Warsaw (Mus. 215)
• Edited by the Fryderyle Chopin Institute, Warsaw
• With a Commentary Volume, an audio CD, all included in a special full-leather box
• Limited to 500 numbered copies worldwide

Specifications

• Original:
  • Fryderyk Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 held in the National Library in Warsaw (Mus. 215). (Piano part in Chopin's autograph; other parts by unknown scribe)
• Facsimile Volume:
  • 9.7 x 13.6 in., 87 folios. Printed-full-color on special laid paper produced by Neograph (Czech Republic) with reproduction of original watermark. Paper binding reproducing the original binding of the score.
• Commentary Volume:
  • Written by Jan Ekier, in six languages including English and Polish.
• Audio CD:
  • Includes recording (1960) of the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor by Artur Rubinstein (piano), Witold Rowicki (cond.) / National Philharmonic Orchestra, Warsaw
• Case:
  • 14.2 x 30 x 2.7 in. special full leather case by Librarium, Poland. Houses facsimile and commentary volumes and audio CD.

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