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In 1826, at age 16, Frederic Chopin entered the Warsaw Conservatory, an adjunct to the University of Warsaw. There he met Josef Elsner, the rare music professor who could not only recognize great talent when it appeared, but knew enough to stay out if its way. His first year at college produced another piece that Fred thought worthy of publication. The pianist in this piece is my friend Adam Neiman, a fellow Ayn Rand fan, whom I consult for fingering in certain pieces.

Chopin: Rondo a la mazurka in F, Op. 5

Fred didn’t see fit to publish these three Scottish dances, but they are charming nonetheless.

Chopin: Three Scottish Dances (D, G, D-flat), Op. 72/3,4,5

Another piece that Fred chose not to publish was these variations. Every composer worth his salt can write variations, and this was the period of his life, his college years, where he wrote entire sets of variations. This one is charming, and Chopin gets to strut his stuff. There is a lot of Rossini in this piece.

Remember from our work with Brahms the rule for writing variations: The harmony supporting the melody must remain constant, but everything else in permitted to vary.

Chopin: Introduction & Variations on a German Song in E

Talk about Rossini! It was hard to avoid his operas. They had conquered the opera houses of Europe and chased Handel’s operas right out of the repertory. It was also time for Fred to learn how to write for other instruments, like the flute. This exercise is a lot of fun for both the pianist and the flutist.

Chopin: Variations on a Theme of Rossini in E for Piano and Flute