This is my favorite of all the Chopin Ballades. I don't know if anybody else hears it this way, but the first theme reminds me of a Chopin Nocturne in how melodic and purposefully not dramatic it is and also the accompaniment. But as soon as you get to the crescendo of broken chords, the mood changes completely, instead of a peaceful Nocturne, it's a Beethovenian bombast. Then a Nocturne feeling again at the F major chord modulating to Eb major that gets developed before the Beethovenian bombast starts again, this time on a Bb major chord. And then a cadenza brings it back to the Nocturne mood once more. Beethovenian bombast comes back one last time in the coda and ends the Ballade in a totally different mood from the way it started, dramatic instead of peaceful.
In my opinion, this piece tells an incredible story and is the best piece of music chopin ever wrote, and this analysis of it is the best I have ever seen so thank you for that. I also suggest you for analysing the third and fourth ballades, since I would also be interested to see those.
I think it’s definitely up there and you could very well make an argument for it being his best piece, but I think the 4th Ballade is more structurally brilliant. The more you analyze that piece, you more you realize how extraordinary it is. I’d argue that it’s as well thought out and structurally nuanced as a Sibelius symphony, which is insane considering one is written for orchestra and the other is written for solo piano
Your analyses of classical music are really among the best on the internet, and the most underrated.
The opening Largo recitative (rising and subtly falling) prefigures the Moderato theme.
Excellent narration 🙏
I have never seen a channel with analysis as deep and informative as yours. Thank you, a lot!
I have fumbled through this piece 100 times. Until today I have never understood it from your perspective. Bravo!
This is my favorite of all the Chopin Ballades. I don't know if anybody else hears it this way, but the first theme reminds me of a Chopin Nocturne in how melodic and purposefully not dramatic it is and also the accompaniment. But as soon as you get to the crescendo of broken chords, the mood changes completely, instead of a peaceful Nocturne, it's a Beethovenian bombast.
Then a Nocturne feeling again at the F major chord modulating to Eb major that gets developed before the Beethovenian bombast starts again, this time on a Bb major chord. And then a cadenza brings it back to the Nocturne mood once more. Beethovenian bombast comes back one last time in the coda and ends the Ballade in a totally different mood from the way it started, dramatic instead of peaceful.
This video is great! So underrated!
Thank you for this great analysis !
In my opinion, this piece tells an incredible story and is the best piece of music chopin ever wrote, and this analysis of it is the best I have ever seen so thank you for that. I also suggest you for analysing the third and fourth ballades, since I would also be interested to see those.
I think it’s definitely up there and you could very well make an argument for it being his best piece, but I think the 4th Ballade is more structurally brilliant. The more you analyze that piece, you more you realize how extraordinary it is. I’d argue that it’s as well thought out and structurally nuanced as a Sibelius symphony, which is insane considering one is written for orchestra and the other is written for solo piano
When do the analysis of the other 3 ballads arrive? So cool!
Great to have you back! :D
superb!!!
Remarquable analyse ! Merci beaucoup !
Underated
Keep up the great work!!
PLEASE do a video on chopin's late works (like the 3rd sonata, polonaise fantasy, barcarolle, op 62 nocturne).....and also haydn sonatas??
Who is the pianist?
very nice! thank you
Great work
Wow!