Chopin's second Ballade remains a topic of discussion amongst pianists and classical music lovers alike, if only for its unusual key relationships. Composers in the Romantic era would frequently contrast music in major keys with themes in the relative minor (in this case, D minor) or parallel minor (again, F minor), but the F Major Ballade simply drops the listener into an explosive A minor theme with no development or modulation. This odd key relationship persists to the end of the piece itself, with a coda and finale entirely in A minor.
Critics of this piece often point to its disjunct transitions and repetitive melodies, but the work stands on its own as emblematic of Chopin's creative genius. Pianist-composers of this era strove to push the instrument to its technical and sonic limit, and the Ballade is perhaps one of Chopin's more daring experiments. One also cannot ignore the work's dedicatee, Robert Schumann, who famously struggled with what might perhaps today have been diagnosed as bipolar episodes. Given its inspiration for such extremes, its no wonder the second Ballade remains a staggering accomplishment of inner turmoil set to music.
Pianist: Brian Woods
Engineer: Nathan Hershey
Mastering: Melanie Montgomery
Album: WANDERINGS (Navona)
For more information on the artist or to purchase a CD, visit brianwoodspianist.com. WANDERINGS is now available to stream on all major platforms.