Piano ballad
Encyclopedia
Piano ballad is a term often used to refer to a piece for solo piano
in the 19th century, during the romantic
era. It was a term used to refer to a piece written in a "narrative" style, and was often lyrical in nature. This type of work made its premiere with Chopin
's first romantic ballad, the Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23 written for piano in 1836.
, commonly 6/8 time, and was based on "thematic metamorphosis" more than, but not exclusive of, formal structures present at that time. Brahms
' ballad, on the other hand, was "clearer" in form, and often relied on a "three-part song form".
Ballads of this nature sometimes alluded to their literary predecessors. Some had obvious or supposed literary associations, and some did not. For example, the ballads of Chopin could be evidence of such association — these four works of Chopin were supposedly inspired by the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz
, who was a friend of Chopin. However, no such evidence directly from the composer's mouth actually exists. There was in fact not a concrete association to literature until Brahms debuted his four ballads (op. 10)
, which bear the title "After the Scottish ballad 'Edward
' ".
Piano ballads have been written since the 19th century; several have been composed in the 20th century (see below).
, a romantic composer and husband of Clara Schumann
, wrote a set of two songs, Balladen, Op. 122 (1852–53) which were written for piano and voice. Claude Debussy
, a later composer, also wrote for piano and voice with his Trois Ballades de François Villon .
Works for piano and orchestra also bearing the title "ballad" have been written. These include Fauré
's Ballade, op. 19, which was written in 1881, and Charles Koechlin
's Ballade for piano and orchestra, op. 50, written between 1911–1919. Interestingly enough, Koechlin happened to be a student of Fauré. This work also exists as a solo work for piano.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in the 19th century, during the romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
era. It was a term used to refer to a piece written in a "narrative" style, and was often lyrical in nature. This type of work made its premiere with Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
's first romantic ballad, the Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23 written for piano in 1836.
Form
The form of the ballad varied due to its independence from the formal compositional structures existing at the time. As mentioned before, ballads have often been characterized as "narrative" in style, and Karol Berger, an established musicologist, defines the "narrative" form as "[musical] parts [that] succeed one another in a determined order...their succession is governed by the relationships of causing and resulting by neccessity or probability." Therefore, the ballad of this time varied. In Chopin, for example, the common element throughout his ballads was the meterMeter (music)
Meter or metre is a term that music has inherited from the rhythmic element of poetry where it means the number of lines in a verse, the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of those syllables as long or short, accented or unaccented...
, commonly 6/8 time, and was based on "thematic metamorphosis" more than, but not exclusive of, formal structures present at that time. Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
' ballad, on the other hand, was "clearer" in form, and often relied on a "three-part song form".
Ballads of this nature sometimes alluded to their literary predecessors. Some had obvious or supposed literary associations, and some did not. For example, the ballads of Chopin could be evidence of such association — these four works of Chopin were supposedly inspired by the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Bernard Mickiewicz ) was a Polish poet, publisher and political writer of the Romantic period. One of the primary representatives of the Polish Romanticism era, a national poet of Poland, he is seen as one of Poland's Three Bards and the greatest poet in all of Polish literature...
, who was a friend of Chopin. However, no such evidence directly from the composer's mouth actually exists. There was in fact not a concrete association to literature until Brahms debuted his four ballads (op. 10)
Ballades, Op. 10 (Brahms)
The Ballades, Op. 10, constituted some of the finest examples of lyrical piano music written by Johannes Brahms during his youth. They were dated 1854 and dedicated to his friend Julius Otto Grimm...
, which bear the title "After the Scottish ballad 'Edward
Edward (ballad)
Edward is a traditional murder ballad existing in several variants. In English its versions were collected by Francis James Child as Child ballad number 13.-Synopsis:...
' ".
Piano ballads have been written since the 19th century; several have been composed in the 20th century (see below).
Collaborative piano ballads
The piano has also been used in works featuring other instruments, as well as voice. For example, Robert SchumannRobert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
, a romantic composer and husband of Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, wrote a set of two songs, Balladen, Op. 122 (1852–53) which were written for piano and voice. Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, a later composer, also wrote for piano and voice with his Trois Ballades de François Villon .
Works for piano and orchestra also bearing the title "ballad" have been written. These include Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
's Ballade, op. 19, which was written in 1881, and Charles Koechlin
Charles Koechlin
Charles Louis Eugène Koechlin was a French composer, teacher and writer on music. He was a political radical all his life and a passionate enthusiast for such diverse things as medieval music, The Jungle Book of Rudyard Kipling, Johann Sebastian Bach, film stars , travelling, stereoscopic...
's Ballade for piano and orchestra, op. 50, written between 1911–1919. Interestingly enough, Koechlin happened to be a student of Fauré. This work also exists as a solo work for piano.
Examples of solo piano ballads
- Frédéric ChopinFrédéric ChopinFrédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
- Four Ballads: Ballade No. 1 in g minor, op. 23 (1831–1835), Watch here
- Ballade No. 2 in F major, op. 38 (1836–1839), Watch here
- Ballade No. 3 in A flat major, op. 47 (1840–1841), Watch it here
- Ballade No. 4 in F minor, op. 52 (1842) Watch it here
- Clara SchumannClara SchumannClara Schumann was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era...
, one of the 6 Soirées musicale, Ballade in d minor, written in 1836 Listen here - César FranckCésar FranckCésar-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
, Ballade, op. 9, written in 1844 - Franz LisztFranz LisztFranz Liszt ; ), was a 19th-century Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher.Liszt became renowned in Europe during the nineteenth century for his virtuosic skill as a pianist. He was said by his contemporaries to have been the most technically advanced pianist of his age...
, Ballade in D-flat major, written in 1845–48, and Ballade in B minor, written in 1853 - Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, Ballades, op. 10Ballades, Op. 10 (Brahms)The Ballades, Op. 10, constituted some of the finest examples of lyrical piano music written by Johannes Brahms during his youth. They were dated 1854 and dedicated to his friend Julius Otto Grimm...
, written in 1854, consists of four ballads Watch No. 1 here, Watch No. 3 here, Watch No. 4 here - Edvard GriegEdvard GriegEdvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
Ballad in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk SongBallade in the Form of VariationsBallade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song in G minor, Op. 24, is a large scale work by Edvard Grieg. It is in the form of theme and variations, the theme being the Norwegian folk song Mountain Song. A performance usually lasts over 20 minutes.The theme is first introduced in 3/4...
, op. 24, written in 1875–76 - Humphrey SearleHumphrey SearleHumphrey Searle was a British composer.-Biography:He was born in Oxford where he was a classics scholar before studying — somewhat hesitantly — with John Ireland at the Royal College of Music in London, after which he went to Vienna on a six month scholarship to become a private pupil of Anton...
Ballade for piano, op. 10, written in 1947 - Alan RawsthorneAlan RawsthorneAlan Rawsthorne was a British composer. He was born in Haslingden, Lancashire, and is buried in Thaxted churchyard in Essex.-Career:...
Ballade, written in 1967 - Samuel BarberSamuel BarberSamuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
Ballade for Piano, op. 46, written in 1977, See it played here - Norman DemuthNorman DemuthNorman Demuth was an English composer and musicologist, remembered largely for his biographies of French composers....
, Ballade triste - George PerleGeorge PerleGeorge Perle was a composer and music theorist. He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. Perle was an alumnus of DePaul University...
Ballade, written in 1981 for Richard GoodeRichard GoodeRichard Goode is an American classical pianist, especially known for his interpretations of Ludwig van Beethoven and chamber music.Goode was born in East Bronx, New York...
, scroll down and listen here - William BolcomWilliam BolcomWilliam Elden Bolcom is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, two Grammy Awards, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. Bolcom taught composition at the University of Michigan from 1973–2008...
Ballade, written for Ursula OppensUrsula OppensUrsula Oppens is an American classical pianist.-Biography:After earning her master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music, Oppens won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1968. This win led to her New York City debut at Carnegie Hall in 1969...
, premiered January 21, 2008