Ballade

Kurt Börner

RomanticObscureballade
H5
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Kurt Börner’s piano music is largely obscure, representing the transition into post-Romantic tonal idioms. The work is notable for its exploration of rich, sweeping arpeggiated figures.

Teacher notes

The main hurdle is achieving seamless transitions between registers using fluid pedaling.

Technical focus

pedalingarpeggioscantabile

Mood

mysteriousatmospheric

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Your status

Not in your repertoire

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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 Kurt Börner?

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 Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie, La cathédrale engloutie by Claude Debussy, Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.