Cambrian Ballade No. 4

Joseph Holbrooke

ModernObscureballadeLento4/4~10 min
H8
Henle (estimated)
RCM 10ABRSM 8

About this piece

The most technically demanding of the series, featuring expansive keyboard writing that pushes the limits of standard Romantic pianism. It exhibits a high degree of structural freedom and emotional intensity.

Teacher notes

Mastering the wide-span chordal passages is essential to prevent fatigue during the more fortissimo sections.

Technical focus

large-chordswide-spandramatic-contrastvoicinglayered-texture

Mood

dramaticpassionatenarrative

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Cambrian Ballade No. 4

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

Browse all Henle level 8 pieces (Concert) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Cambrian Ballade No. 4 by Joseph Holbrooke?

Cambrian Ballade No. 4 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 Cambrian Ballade No. 4?

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 Cambrian Ballade No. 4?

A typical performance of Cambrian Ballade No. 4 lasts about 10 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Cambrian Ballade No. 4?

Cambrian Ballade No. 4 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Cambrian Ballade No. 4?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Cambrian Ballade No.3 by Joseph Holbrooke, Cambrian Ballade No. 1 by Joseph Holbrooke, Cambrian Ballade No. 2 by Joseph Holbrooke — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.