Since the 15-year-old Chopin attached his first opus number to this Rondo and immediately had it published in Warsaw, he was apparently confident of his achievement. He had reason to be: this rondo is a worthwhile composition, not simply in light of the composer's youth but because it displays his considerable grasp of composition, as well as of piano technique.

Perhaps the most important aspect in Chopin's style in the C minor Rondo is his treatment of melody, which he already regarded not as an element separate from harmony but as a part of the same seamless musical fabric. While the themes may divulge the style of the popular Italian operas of the day, their authorship is rarely in doubt and their imaginative writing makes them native to the keyboard. The playful opening theme is dazzling in its bravura manner and sense of kaleidoscopic color. A songful Italianate melody that would not have been out of place in a Rossini opera provides fine contrast in its graceful appearances. Chopin demonstrates an assured grasp of the rondo form throughout, and his brilliant writing, rife with rapid sixteenth-note passages and imaginative but natural arpeggios, divulge his burgeoning mastery. This is a minor gem that will appeal to those with an interest in light piano music from the early-nineteenth century.

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