I am restoring and retouching Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat mojor, Opus 53
written by Frédéric Chopin in 1842

Goal

Using high resolution images of the entire original work, remove non-relevant artifacts to reveal a clearer view of Chopin’s original artistic intent. Graduated cleanups will be performed with a permanent record of each evolution. The final result will be converted to Scalable Vector Graphics format preserving the score’s details at any scale. All images will be in the public domain.

Why

Starting with the first published edition editors have made adjustments to the score. This is evidenced at points throughout the first publishing and demonstrated in the first notes of the piece – the staccato notation is missing and within the first bar the pedal mark does not conform to the original. Students and scholars of the piece will have a clearer understanding as to how Chopin himself may have intended the polonaise to be performed.

Who

The Opus 53 Project is being undertaken in San Francisco by digital restoration artist Rick Pirman under the auspices and review of Antony Tyshuk.

Page 1 is complete and we are waiting for the rest of the pages. More soon to keep you abreast of the project.