Ballade No.1

Franz Liszt

RomanticFamousballadeD-flat majorAllegretto4/4~15 min
H8
Henle (estimated)
RCM 10

About this piece

Liszt's Second Ballade is a massive, storm-tossed work of epic proportions that pushes the limits of Romantic piano technique. Its frequent use of chromaticism and expansive structural shifts define it as a masterpiece of late Romanticism.

Teacher notes

The greatest technical difficulty lies in executing the rapid, cascading arpeggio passages and powerful, sustained chordal climaxes.

Technical focus

arpeggiosoctave-runsdramatic-contrastrubatolarge-chords

Mood

narrativedramaticpassionate

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Your status

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Ballade No.1

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

Browse all Henle level 8 pieces (Concert) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballade No.1 by Franz Liszt?

Ballade No.1 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 Ballade No.1?

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 Ballade No.1?

A typical performance of Ballade No.1 lasts about 15 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballade No.1?

Ballade No.1 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Ballade No.1?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Ballade aus Der fliegende Holländer, Wagner by Franz Liszt, Bénédiction et serment, 2 motifs de Benvenuto Cellini de Hector Berlioz by Franz Liszt, Ballade aus Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.