The Foundation of The National Edition of Fryderyk Chopin's Works

The Foundation was established in 1998, by Professor Jan Ekier. Professor Ekier has conceived the idea of publishing the National Edition of Chopin's complete works and is the Edition's Editor-in-Chief. The following persons constitute the Foundation's Board: Pawel Kaminski (President), Prof. Kazimierz Gierzod and Prof. Ryszard Zimak.

The Foundation has its home at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Okolnik 2, room 405. The Foundation's objective is to complete and promote the National Edition of Chopin's works.

The main areas of activity are the following:
- acquisition of Polish and foreign sponsorship
- organisation of the preparation of consecutive volumes, i.e., commissioning assignments to competent collaborators and energetic institutions
- organisation of concerts, lectures, piano courses and other events to promote the National Edition
- raising funds by means of many impresarios responsible for the organisation of concerts advertising the National Edition and the seeking of sponsors

The National Edition is the only edition of Chopin's works based on the entire body of available sources. The source materials have been analysed with the use of state-of-the-art scientific methodology. According to Professor Jozef Chominski, an eminent Polish musicologist who reviewed the National Edition project, "The National Edition [...] fully deserves the name of a monumental edition. It will contribute to the splendour of Polish science and art, both in Poland and abroad". The objective of the National Edition is to present Chopin's output in its authentic form. The National Edition is:

a source edition - based on Chopin's original sources (manuscripts, manuscript copies, first editions, and copies with Chopin's hand-written notes on scores which his pupil's used during their music lessons) The NE editors have access to the originals or photocopies of practically every existing source
a critical edition - The sources have been analysed to check their authenticity and examine their relations. It is important to note that the composer's intentions can only be uncovered by the extensive analysis of a variety of sources. The characteristics and affiliation of sources as well as the discrepancies between various sources have been discussed in the source commentaries together with the justifications for the various decisions made by the editors
a practical edition - It includes fingering and performance commentaries which clarify the elements of the music notation which may be unclear to the contemporary performer

Compiled by: The Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music