Debussy Ballade

[spirithorn]

I've read through this piece many times over the years. and thought about learning it in detail.  It doesn't seem to be performed or recorded very much.  Has anyone played it?
Would be interested in your experiences/opinions.

[mlsmithz]

The Ballade?  Wonderful, wonderful piece.  Not terribly difficult either, at least not technically (as with quite a lot of slower Debussy, I find that getting the light, shade, and colour into the piece is the tricky bit).  Somewhat reminiscent in structure of Reverie, actually - both of them are in F major, but halfway through they make a transition via D minor to an E major section on a new idea, and then they lead back to F major for a short coda recalling the first section.  When played well, it is, in my not terribly humble opinion, one of Debussy's most beautiful and serene pieces for solo piano.  So it's a shame that, as you point out, it's seldom recorded or performed.  All the more reason for you to learn it, I'd say!

[burstroman]

Recently I heard a recording of it after a long absence and didn't recognize it at first.  It's beautiful and well worth learning.

[stevie]

its randomly one of those 'debussy for people who dont like debussy' pieces

for the record, ive always had trouble fingering debussy.....i blame large hands

[pianobabe_56]

I LOVE this piece! It's simple, it's beautiful... I don't know. It could just be a current obsession, but I'm a big fan.

[spirithorn]

Thanks for all the comments.  Definitely confirms my opinion of this piece.  Think I'll put it on the repertoire list.

[arensky]

It's great, maybe the best of "Early Debussy", or pre "Pour le Piano" or Images I Debussy...I think it's underplayed because of it's so subtle, like Faure; maybe it doesn't scan well to those not initiated into the ways and means of French music..do learn it, it's on my to do list for the next few years, perfect for introducing a second half of a recital, probably comprised of Debussy...go for it! 

[pianistimo]

i didn't realize debussy wrote a ballade.  thanks for the info!  his approach to form is quite interesting.  perhaps the ballade gave him as much freedom as a fantasy, but he preferred to let people decide which one it was.  am sort of surprised that he didn't come up with his own french term.  perhaps they have nothing equivalent (or am i being a little too 'american' in my thought).  just joking around, really.

just looked up the term 'ballade' in my Harvard music dictionary and found that Schubert also wrote in this form his 'erlking.'  and, liszt and brahms did write ballades, too, as i now recall - so perhaps it was a very standard form.  somehow, i had the idea that the impressionists tried to stay away from poetry because it would exactly define the music - but maybe debussy was trying to use a poetic or written form only with music and without any reference to a poet?  sort of like writing a ballade with an idea of a story in mind, but no distinct story?

[maxy]

Played it and enjoyed it.  Easy to learn, nothing mechanically challenging yet there is a lot of work that can be done on dynamics and pedaling.

[classico]

Love the piece. Technically not too demanding, but as mentioned previously, dynamics is the trickiest part.

[allthumbs]

I just read this thread today and decided to have a read through of this piece from the sheet music I have of it.

Lovely piece and one to add to my repertoire (amongst so many... sigh )

Anyway, I have scanned it in and now have it on PDF and should anyone wish a copy, just e-mail me.

Cheers

allthumbs