Ballade

Viggo BrodersenOp.30

RomanticObscureballadeA minorAndantino6/8~5 min
H6
Henle (estimated)
RCM 7ABRSM 6

About this piece

Viggo Brodersen was a Danish composer whose output reflects a blend of Scandinavian and Continental European Romantic sensibilities. This Ballade is an evocative, smaller-scale work that favors melody over excessive bravura.

Teacher notes

Focus on the delicate balance of layered textures to keep the melody prominent throughout.

Technical focus

cantabilerubatovoicingarpeggios

Mood

nostalgicgentlelyrical

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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 6 pieces (Advanced) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Ballade (Op.30) by Viggo Brodersen?

Ballade (Op.30) is rated Henle level 6 of 9 — advanced repertoire, roughly ABRSM grades 7–8. 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 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.

How long is Ballade?

A typical performance of Ballade (Op.30) lasts about 5 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Ballade?

Ballade (Op.30) 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 Nocturne in B major, No. 1 by Frédéric Chopin, Barcarole No.3; Op.50 No.3 by Anton Rubinstein, Bossa Nova by Serban Nichifor — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.