Ballad, GP 181/300

Arnold Bax

ModernSpecialistballadeLento4/4~7 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 9ABRSM 8

About this piece

Arnold Bax's GP 181 is a dense, moody work that bridges late Romanticism and Modernism. It is characterized by atmospheric, impressionistic harmonies and expansive pianistic textures.

Teacher notes

Managing the complex, layered textures is essential to prevent the sound from becoming muddy.

Technical focus

dramatic-contrastrubatovoicinglayered-texture

Mood

contemplativedramatic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Ballad, GP 181/300

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

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Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballad, GP 181/300 by Arnold Bax?

Ballad, GP 181/300 is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 9.

What level do I need to play Ballad, GP 181/300?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 6 — meaning you can already play level 5–6 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, GP 181/300?

A typical performance of Ballad, GP 181/300 lasts about 7 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballad, GP 181/300?

Ballad, GP 181/300 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Ballad, GP 181/300?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Nocturne in C minor, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin, Ballade by Josef Gabriel Rheinberger, 28 Variationen über ein achttaktiges Thema by Karl Weigl — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.