Ballade

Alfred Bachelet

RomanticObscureballade
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Alfred Bachelet's approach to the ballade form is rooted in French late-Romantic lyricism. It is characterized by gentle harmonic shifts and a flowing, narrative-driven melody.

Teacher notes

Developing a singing tone (cantabile) that sustains through thicker harmonic textures is essential.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatofinger-independence

Mood

lyricalelegantnostalgic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Ballade

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

Browse all Henle level 5 pieces (Late intermediate) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballade by Alfred Bachelet?

Ballade is rated Henle level 5 of 9 — late intermediate repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 6–7. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 7.

What level do I need to play Ballade?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 5 — meaning you can already play level 4–5 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballade?

Ballade is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Ballade?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include 16 Waltzes by Johannes Brahms, Belle of the Ball by Leroy Anderson, American Beauty by Joseph Francis Lamb — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.