Chopin’s first Ballade is one of the four single-movement works composed between 1835 and 1842. The term “Ballade” was originated in Medieval and Renaissance French poetry, often related to folk stories. The four Ballades are dramatic works with dance elements. Chopin was the first to apply this term to an instrumental work, and directly influenced Brahms and Liszt to use the same term in their compositions later on. The first Ballade incorporated ideas from sonata and variation forms. It consists of a brief introduction built on the Neapolitan chord of A-flat major, two main themes and a coda that reminisces the opening Neapolitan harmony. As one of the most popular pieces in piano repertoire, Robert Schumann praised it “a work closest to his [Chopin’s] genius.” Notes by YinJia Lin
Classical Music | Piano Music
Frédéric Chopin
Ballade No. 1 G minor Play
Recorded on 07/03/2019, uploaded on 10/25/2019
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Chopin’s first Ballade is one of the four single-movement works composed between 1835 and 1842. The term “Ballade” was originated in Medieval and Renaissance French poetry, often related to folk stories. The four Ballades are dramatic works with dance elements. Chopin was the first to apply this term to an instrumental work, and directly influenced Brahms and Liszt to use the same term in their compositions later on. The first Ballade incorporated ideas from sonata and variation forms. It consists of a brief introduction built on the Neapolitan chord of A-flat major, two main themes and a coda that reminisces the opening Neapolitan harmony. As one of the most popular pieces in piano repertoire, Robert Schumann praised it “a work closest to his [Chopin’s] genius.” Notes by YinJia Lin
More music by Frédéric Chopin
Ballade N° 3
Mazurka Op. 33 No. 1 in g-sharp minor
Mazurka Op 67 N° 4
Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Prelude in F major, Op. 28, No. 23, Moderato
Waltz Op 34 N° 2
Mazurka Op 63 N° 2
Fantasy, Op. 49
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66
Impromptu no. 3 in G-flat major, op. 51
Performances by same musician(s)
Sonata in D Major, K. 96
Sonata in B Minor, K. 87
Sonata in D Minor, K. 141
Piano Sonata No. 1 Op. 22
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