Ballade

Tivadar SzántóOp.2

RomanticObscureballadeF minorLento4/4~8 min
H7
Henle (estimated)
RCM 9ABRSM 8

About this piece

Tivadar Szántó was a notable pianist and contemporary of Busoni, and his works often lean toward a sophisticated, late-Romantic harmonic vocabulary. This piece is a contemplative and expansive look at the ballade form.

Teacher notes

The main difficulty is managing the sustain and resonance required for the atmospheric, larger-than-life sonorities.

Technical focus

large-chordsvoicingpedalingdramatic-contrastrubato

Mood

mysteriouspassionatecontemplative

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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 7 pieces (Late advanced) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballade (Op.2) by Tivadar Szántó?

Ballade (Op.2) is rated Henle level 7 of 9 — late advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grade 8 and above. In the RCM system it corresponds to about level 9.

What level do I need to play Ballade?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 7 — meaning you can already play level 6–7 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?

A typical performance of Ballade (Op.2) lasts about 8 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballade?

Ballade (Op.2) 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 'Bella mia fiamma' by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ballade No.2 by Frédéric Chopin, Asturias (Leyenda) by Isaac Albéniz — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.