PlayPiano
The short answer
A Ballade whose title grew shorter. Ballade (C.Debussy) is a ballade by Claude Debussy from the Late Romantic and Impressionist era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 8, an estimate.
- ballade
- Late Romantic and Impressionist
- dreamy
History
Debussy sent Ballade slave to Choudens in January 1891 and dedicated it to Anne-Marthe-Nelly Hottinguer. When revising the piece for Fromont in 1903, he removed slave from the title. The two names record stages in the life of the same composition.
Sources
What to listen for
Quiet gestures begin to ease
Related opening gestures move toward an easing response. Hear their shared contour without giving each appearance a fresh strong accent.
Poco mosso changes the texture
The contrasting span develops into a softening transition. Listen for the shift in motion as it leads away from the opening texture.
Sparse echoes prepare the return
Sparse echoes and a restrained transition lead toward the later recall. Hear their space as part of the larger route.
Quiet gestures finish the phrase
The final gestures close quietly after the higher return. Listen for the remaining direction rather than extending the earlier growth into the ending.
How to practise it
Let the emerging melody grow from the opening arpeggiation.
- Practise the ascending groups into the held E at a comfortable tempo.
- Practise the upper tie into the next phrase, then add the held supporting pairs.
- Connect the examined phrase at a comfortable tempo while keeping its stated layers and releases distinct.
How hard is it
Extended lyrical writing and changing accompaniment textures require fluent coordination and large-scale pacing.
About this piece
- Collection
- French piano colors
- Licence
- CC0
- Source
- musescore.com
More by Claude Debussy
- The Little Shepherd, Children's Corner No. 5Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
- Clair de lune, Suite bergamasque, L. 75Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
- La cathédrale engloutie, Préludes I No. 10Level 8, estimatedWith Maestro
