Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)

Carl Tausig

RomanticSpecialistballadeD minorAllegro agitato6/8~8 min
H8
Henle (estimated)
RCM 10ABRSM 8

About this piece

Carl Tausig's 'Das Geisterschiff' is a virtuosic and dark-hued tone poem for the piano based on a poem by Strachwitz. It features intense tremolos and sweeping arpeggios that capture the ghostly atmosphere of the narrative.

Teacher notes

Technical proficiency in maintaining high-velocity octave runs and consistent tremolos is required for this work.

Technical focus

speed-agilityoctave-runsdramatic-contrastarpeggiosrubato

Mood

dramaticatmosphericmysteriouspowerful

Listen & watch

No video available for this piece.

Your status

Not in your repertoire

Sign in to track this piece

Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 8 pieces (Concert) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballad (Das Geisterschiff) by Carl Tausig?

Ballad (Das Geisterschiff) is rated Henle level 8 of 9 — concert repertoire, roughly diploma level. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 10.

What level do I need to play Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 8 — meaning you can already play level 7–8 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)?

A typical performance of Ballad (Das Geisterschiff) lasts about 8 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)?

Ballad (Das Geisterschiff) is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Ballad (Das Geisterschiff)?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 'Das Geisterschiff' by Carl Tausig, Ballade No.2 by Franz Liszt, Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.