Ballade No.1

Józef NowakowskiOp.34

RomanticObscureballade
H6
Henle (estimated)

About this piece

Józef Nowakowski was a contemporary of Chopin, and his music reflects the Polish salon style of the mid-19th century. This piece is characterized by melodic grace and idiomatic piano figurations common to the period.

Teacher notes

Ensure the clarity of the ornamental runs, which should be played with an elegant, light touch.

Technical focus

articulationcantabilerubatofinger-independence

Mood

nostalgicelegant

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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 6 pieces (Advanced) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballade No.1 (Op.34) by Józef Nowakowski?

Ballade No.1 (Op.34) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8.

What level do I need to play Ballade No.1?

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.

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

Ballade No.1 (Op.34) 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 No.2 by Józef Nowakowski, Ballade by Józef Nowakowski, Waltz No. 2 by Dmitri Shostakovich — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.