Ballades

[j_menz]

OK, so Chopin invented them and went on to write four.  Liszt wrote two, Brahms wrote four.

Who else?

Clara Schuman (1)
Grieg (1 - in the form of Variations)
Barber (1)
York Bowen (2) - btw love a link to where I can get the sheets for these!
Bolcom (1)
Franck (1)

Both Roy Agnew and Nikolai Medtner wrote Sonata Ballades.

Solo piano only, please.

[ajspiano]

Probably not quite the caliber you're looking for, but my gut reaction was Burgmuller, Op. 25 No. 15

[ajspiano]

Also I'm pretttty sure Debussy got in on it.

Here's another, faure Op. 19.
https://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/f/f5/IMSLP06570-Faure_-_Ballade__Op.19__piano_.pdf

[j_menz]

Also I'm pretttty sure Debussy got in on it.

He did some for piano and voice, but I don't know of a solo piano one by him..

Thanks for the Faure. Not so much for the Burgmuller. 

[ajspiano]

He did some for piano and voice, but I don't know of a solo piano one by him..

https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/4/4f/IMSLP01485-Debussy_Ballade.pdf

wikipedia mentions a few other names aswell you might like to check out
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballade_(classical_music)

[j_menz]

https://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/4/4f/IMSLP01485-Debussy_Ballade.pdf

Hmm. I really do need to get out more. Thanks. 

wikipedia mentions a few other names aswell you might like to check out
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballade_(classical_music)

Hmm.. for solo piano that adds Felix Baumfelder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_ballad adds

Humphrey Searle Ballade for piano, op. 10, written in 1947
Alan Rawsthorne Ballade, written in 1967
Norman Demuth, Ballade triste
George Perle Ballade, written in 1981

[ajspiano]

Hmm. I really do need to get out more. Thanks. 

If I want to expose myself to more piano repertoire "out" is not usually where I would choose to go.. Unless its with my friend phil, who not so infrequently has a manuscript book on hand containing the odd self-composed fugue.

[ianw]

A few other names for your consideration:

Barber
Bartok
Beach
Brown
De Senneville
Grechinov
Grieg
Hetu
Kabalevsky
Perle
Schumann

[asiantraveller101]

I just heard Ponce's Balada Mexicana recently. Wonderful piece.

[j_menz]

A few other names for your consideration:

Thanks. Some duplications, but:

Bartok - Cool, there seems to be a few of them.

Beach - Embarrased to have omitted this, since it's on my shelf.

Brown - If you mean Rosemary you need a good lie down. If not, though, who? The Bob Dylan?

De Senneville - Hmmm, I suppose so.

Grechinov - I assume you meqan Gretchaninoff. Useful addition, I hadn't heard of it.

Hetu - Another new one to me. Thanks.


Kabalevsky - Ah, not quite what I had in mind, but technically correct.


Schumann - Clara is noted, and I thought Bobby only wrote piano&vocal ones, but after the Debussy mistake I'd love to be shown up again. Do you have a link/reference?

my friend phil, who not so infrequently has a manuscript book on hand containing the odd self-composed fugue.

What does he do with the even ones?

[j_menz]

I just heard Ponce's Balada Mexicana recently. Wonderful piece.

Cool. I like that!!

I see there's an orchestral version - is the piano one the original or a transcription?

[ajspiano]

Schumann - Clara is noted, and I thought Bobby only wrote piano&vocal ones, but after the Debussy mistake I'd love to be shown up again. Do you have a link/reference?

I have not been able to find any just now after a relatively extensive search..

What does he do with the even ones?

There aren't any, that's the title of the work.. "the odd fugue" 

The set is called "counterintuitive counterpoint"

[j_menz]

There aren't any, that's the title of the work.. "the odd fugue" 

The set is called "counterintuitive counterpoint"

It appears PDQ either has a rival or a lot to answer for...

[ajspiano]

It appears PDQ either has a rival or a lot to answer for...

What on earth is PDQ?

[j_menz]

What on earth is PDQ?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._D._Q._Bach

And a sample:

I do feel much better about the Debussy Ballade now, though.

[ajspiano]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._D._Q._Bach

hahah, right, I had heard of that before.. perhaps there would be a rival had I not be spinning a rather large yarn.

I do feel much better about the Debussy Ballade now, though.

My lack of knowledge hardly excuses yours..  or do you feel the need to compare yourself to me constantly to maintain your self esteem?

[j_menz]

Before it's pointed out:

Alistair Hinton's Piano Sonata No 4 is subtitled "Ballade", and his Scottish Ballad no doubt is just missing an E. Or it's hidden cryptically somewhere within the score to be found as a delight for the initiated.

My lack of knowledge hardly excuses yours..  or do you feel the need to compare yourself to me constantly to maintain your self esteem?

I made no excuse.

You underestimate the esteem in which I hold myself. Indeed, most people find it quite surprising.

[ajspiano]

r4eva likes this one
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=50532.msg550793#msg550793

[j_menz]

r4eva likes this one
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=50532.msg550793#msg550793

Yeah, but until there's a score, it's an improv.

[ajspiano]

Yeah, but until there's a score, it's an improv.

Depends how keen you are I guess..  you could always commission perfect_pitch to transcribe it.

[asiantraveller101]

Cool. I like that!!

I see there's an orchestral version - is the piano one the original or a transcription?

Honestly, I wouldn't know. I have only known it as piano music. I suspect the orchestral version is probably like Ravel's orchestral version of some of his piano music.

[ianw]

Brown = Stephen Brown, in particular his Ballade for Liliane.  See more at www.stephenbrown.ca

Grechinov does indeed mean Grechaninov

Schumann (R, not C) = Balladenmaffig No. 10 from Davidsbundlertanze Op. 6

Also, can I interest you in Rzewski, F. North American Ballads?

[j_menz]

Brown = Stephen Brown, in particular his Ballade for Liliane.  See more at www.stephenbrown.ca

Cool. Thanks. Is guessing that you're Canadian win me anything?

Schumann (R, not C) = Balladenmaffig No. 10 from Davidsbundlertanze Op. 6

Balladenmassig means in the style of a ballad and is a kind of mood/tempo mark rather than a title per se. I don't think it makes it a Ballade, especially as it's part of a larger work.

Also, can I interest you in Rzewski, F. North American Ballads?

LOL, sounds like a line from a dodgy character in a pub.   

But nope. I have a copy already. I think Rzewski means "Ballad" in the song sense, not the instrumental Ballade sense (despite them being solo piano works). Noted though.

[thalbergmad]

There are probably hundreds not mentioned here, but two that stick in my mind that have both been recorded are the Henselt and even better, the Vianna da Motta.

Thal

[outin]

John Ireland wrote two:
Ballad of London Nights (1930)
Ballade (1931)

[ahinton]

Before it's pointed out:

Alistair Hinton's Piano Sonata No 4 is subtitled "Ballade"

It is indeed and it was originally intended to be the first movement of a four-movement sonata but ended up as a standalone work in its own right; the Ballades of Chopin were something of a motivation for it.

and his Scottish Ballad no doubt is just missing an E. Or it's hidden cryptically somewhere within the score to be found as a delight for the initiated.

Not really; being Scottish (as am I myself), its title didn't need the final "e", although there must be quite a few Es in the piece itself (I've never counted them, obviously), despite its principal tonality being E flat minor.

Best,

Alistair

[ianw]

Cool. Thanks. Is guessing that you're Canadian win me anything?

It might do if I were Canadian...wrong hemisphere!  My knowledge of Mr Brown's works is limited to the two pieces which appear in the Piano Syllabus app on Google Play.

[haydnseeker]

Kaija Saariaho (2005)

[j_menz]

There are probably hundreds not mentioned here, but two that stick in my mind that have both been recorded are the Henselt and even better, the Vianna da Motta.

Thal

Thanks. The da Motta looks especially interesting, though those 45 tremelos in the LH are going to kill me!

John Ireland wrote two:
Ballad of London Nights (1930)
Ballade (1931)

Cool, I need more Ireland.

[mjames]

Liadov, Liadov!!!

People always forget about my dear Liadov.

Yeah I know it's not solo piano. Felt like sharing it...

[j_menz]

Liadov, Liadov!!!

Yeah I know it's not solo piano. Felt like sharing it...

Actually, it originally was:

The one you posted is his own orchestration.

Love it.

[j_menz]

Good grief, my mind is jelly. How could I forget:

Carl Tausig

Sigismond Thalberg

 

[chopin2015]

Are the Chopin Ballades not enough? 

[thalbergmad]

Are the Chopin Ballades not enough? 

Not really sweetie.

Thal

[birba]

Never mind.  Got confused.

[orangesodaking]

Are the Chopin Ballades not enough? 

Great, yes. But enough? Hardly. All of the other ballade repertoire cannot be discounted.

[mjames]

Actually, it originally was:

Holy crap, I never knew. Thank you.

[j_menz]

Holy crap, I never knew. Thank you.

It's not in the Muszyka Selected Piano Works that I have. Not sure if it's in the Peters or Editio Musica Budapest compilations, and it doesn't appear to be in print seperately.

The only scan I have is of pretty ordinary quality, but is attached in case you find it useful.

[j_menz]

And a worthy addition to the list, Sergei Bortkiewicz - Ballade in C#m Op 42:

More C#m - Hans von Bulow Op 11:

[j_menz]

Kaija Saariaho (2005)

Interesting. Not my usual style, but I do rather like this.

[chopin2015]

Great, yes. But enough? Hardly. All of the other ballade repertoire cannot be discounted.

Agreed, but the Chopin Ballades are one of a kind. Just like the Gershwin preludes...WHY AREN'T THERE MORE? THEY WERE SOOOO FUN!!!! 

[ajspiano]

Agreed, but the Chopin Ballades are one of a kind.

Not to discount their brilliance, but you are probably a little bias owing to being in love with fred.

[chopin2015]

Not to discount their brilliance, but you are probably a little bias owing to being in love with fred.

Haha, OK

It's not just about Fred. The sounds, the clothes, the language, the people, the stories...everything about those times and loneliness is what I am kind of into. I like a sad, tragic ballade, even if it is in a major key.

[j_menz]

OK, there's actually a third Ballade by Liszt, his Ballade Ukraine, the first part of his Glanes de Woronince - S248:

[brianr7]

 the first part of his Glanes de Woronince - S248:

Thanks for this!   However, for those who may search for this sheet music, may I respectfully mention it is S249

[stoudemirestat]

^^

It's worth mentioning that the other two pieces from the Glanes de Woronince are also very nice. Especially the last one, the 'Complainte.'

[chopin2015]

OK, there's actually a third Ballade by Liszt, his Ballade Ukraine, the first part of his Glanes de Woronince - S248:

Wow! Good stuff!

[visitor]

 

[flashyfingers]

Blumenfeld

[outin]

Per Henrik Nordgren: Nine Kwaidan Ballades

Here's nro 2

And there's also this