Chopin Ballade No.1 - Analysis & Interpretation

[@heartofthekeys]

Hi everyone! I am sorry for the piano being out of tune again... I was practicing a lot :P As I am saying in the video, this is just a very small part of the whole analysis and also there are much more different ways to interpret the results of the analysis - unfortunately I couldn't put everything in this video. I would love to know your opinions and interpretations on these first bars! Tell me in the comments how you would interpret the analysis! Did you like any of the presented interpretations? And why? Looking forward to a discussion with you about this topic! Have a great start into the week!

[@J.R.Swish1]

If your piano is out of tune because you play it a lot, and not because you don't play it at all, it means you're doing the right thing!

[@alextejeda5639]

I have been trying to teach myself piano from KZbin videos for 18 months now and my prior knowledge was novice. Learning songs felt like buying a fish when learning the theory seemed like learning how to fish. To this day I can’t play a song, but I started with ttsttts and now I find myself trying to move the tonic around while using the same key signature like g minor/ Bb major/ c Dorian. Just useless things like that and a video like this actually makes a lot of sense to me. I learned most of what I know from Andrew Furmanczyk to keep something consistent, and then I started branching off to try to find out where all the learning leads too. I understood immediately what you meant about order vs chaos in between and a lot of what I learned sort of clicked. Andrew said not to listen to the same recordings by the same people and mentioned things about emotion, two step violin says how a single song can be played so many different ways. I love this piece and I listened to a lot of different recordings when I got that advice and understood what they meant. Along with playing I learned that just by knowing what you are doing and building up a heavy saturation can be changed completely by a single note is why I wanted to keep learning more theory. The heavier the Saturation the stronger the swing if that makes sense. Everyone’s different is something that I love is emphasized in music. I cycle through between recordings of Kassia ,Rousseau, & K. Zimerman. After listening to rousseaus’ recording religiously I branched off and accepted interpretations. I thought that music was written one way and it had to be played “verbatim” I can’t translate sheet music and i am learning the value of rests atm. Something about patience you value more the more you learn with the piano. This video helped me a lot personally where I’m at. Helping me understand that yes there are chunks of music where personality is added. Thank you. You asked for feedback on something very intangible and I know exactly how it feels. These are neat videos. You’re capturing your ignorance 😂 if that makes sense cause once you learn it yk. Andrew said to always enjoy where you’re at so. I have goals but it’s all a process.

[@karielok]

As an amateur pianist, I rarely do in-depth analysis or I shd say I don't know how to!! Thanks to you now I have some basic ideas of how to start. Before that, I just go to youtube to listen to how other people play and note down the way I like the most. For Chopin Ballade No.1, I personally like Rousseau's version the most, and his way of executing the first 7 bars is just... idk.. strangely satisfying.

[@markus7894]

Maybe you can invest in the pianolifesaver.com. Apparently, it helps very well with the tuning.

[@sachabaudez]

If you play a lot then you are making your piano feeling happy !! That's great !😊

[@ruchirrawat8804]

analysis and interpretation should definitely become a series. so much knowledge 😍

[@lucasmaia6868]

For me, this is the best music ever made. I've heard a lot of pieces during my life, but no one overcame Ballade n1

[@chessematics]

Exactly

[@mediumsizedgrape]

Ballade 4

[@Szyszyjan]

@@mediumsizedgrape nope.

[@nizarbou5261]

​@@mediumsizedgrapefar from it

[@creationfied]

his barcarolle

[@yahyamhirsi]

Perfect timing! I am watching this 20 minutes before playing it for the first time in front of my teacher haha

[@libEluLLah]

how did it go?

[@yahyamhirsi]

@@libEluLLah it went great! We spent a lot of time identifying when 2 note phrases occur especially the Eb going to D which appears all over the piece, and working on rhythm (not toooo much freedom) and gestures trying to make my wrist more flexible!

[@libEluLLah]

@@yahyamhirsi nice

[@sahilbaori9052]

Genius spotted.

[@tryinganna9883]

@@yahyamhirsi the freedom comes when you know the pulse and correct rhythm because you understand what will still sound nice when you interpret it yourself ie giving you freedom to play it how you think it sounds nice with the correct pulse so the song still flows without knowing it you keep the same pulse but youll play with your own dynamics

[@vivanvasudeva3888]

That "confusion of the highest order" meme was too good😂

[@boodabill]

The openness of the quasi-Ab intro gives way to the chromatic harmony which functions to create more angst. It is then calmly resolved in the tonicization of g minor and the beauty and confidence of the melody.

[@lucidviolin1298]

Gave me a deeper insight into this piece. Been playing this one on and off, searching for new dimensions to playing this, but took a few years to understand what’s going on. This video alone set me forward about 2 years of self work 😅 thank you

[@duannehaughton4893]

Annique explaining music theory is NOT boring😃😃😃😃😃

[@vrendus522]

Am studying piano now. Just wanted to let you know I'm in your audience. Thank you for your efforts. Dan

[@bastienl6699]

One of the best format till now I find. It enabled me to interest to analysis. Hope to have new ones soon 😆😆

[@kubakwiecinski6082]

Next Level - Play second cadenz, maybe u'll do 1h Challenge to learn this? Would be really awesome

[@christinachampion8678]

A must lesson for anyone who wants to understand Chopin. More lessons like this are seriously needed, to understand the Genius of Chopin. Very comprehensive, you are amazing.

[@sampeng5216]

Very impressive and very technical analysis of this very romantic ballade #1. Thank you. Would love to see you analyze in your next project of what many people say as a master piece: the ballade#4 in F minor.

[@MR-is3hg]

Loved this (and I love this piece)!!!!!!! It would be amazing a second part analyzing the coda or another parts from the ballade! But you should keep doing this kind of videos even if it's for another pieces, it's a very interesting way to aprecciate music. And what about the fourth ballade for the next one?

[@brucecrane9605]

I have nothing but the utmost respect for all of you who understand and incorporate this in depth approach to piano music. I only wish I had the opportunity to learn piano and music theory at an early age. Never the less , I love listening to you analysis these classic pieces.

[@RolandHuettmann]

This allows people to develop a sense of appreciation for the music, the composer, the piece, the interpreter -- who is not just mechanically playing, but recreating the piece -- which truly is an art. Big thanks !!!

[@alizamaniyan960]

These types of videos are very valuable. Educational. I wish there was more of these

[@DomskiPlays]

My favourite piece. Ever. Not even close.

[@jermaine52088]

I’m the beginner among the beginners. Although I do not have solid music theory/knowledge, but from what you’ve explained, I kind of able to understand how this entire thing works after your analysis on the piece. Your method of analysing every measure helps me when I look at the notes now, the pauses, the dynamics,etc... I learned something treasure today! I might not be able to apply on my hands on now, but this is something that would help me go further, at least I believed so. Thanks 😊

[@aligh18]

YES! I really hope you are able to make more of these analysis & interpretation videos :D !!!

[@willschneider4616]

N6 -> V -> i. This tells us that the first harmony, a neopolitan in first inversion, is a substitution for a more normal predominant harmony like ii°. It should be emphasized to bring out its interesting color. The V is kept ambiguous with a little modal borrowing initially (to ease over from the N6), and the rest is just a lovely little melody almost acting like a distant response to the call of the bold initial N6, all dancing around V and i until Chopin is ready for the introduction to end. The harmonic progression is functional, and its function helps to determine how it's played.

[@randomguy6934]

me doesnt speak harmony yet what is dis? 😳

[@willschneider4616]

​@@randomguy6934 In any given major or minor piece, there are a set of seven basic harmonies, each made up of three individual pitches separated by thirds, and each of them tend to have their own jobs. We number these using Roman numerals because of tradition, and the numerals are uppercase if Major and lowercase if minor. Because "Ballade No. 1" is in a minor key, meaning it has the harmonies i ii° III iv v VI and VII, though minor likes to borrow a raised seventh scale degree from Major, so the 5th harmony is V. That explains V (called the dominant) and i (called the tonic). V likes to go to i because it has excellent voice-leading, meaning each of the three pitches either stay in place or only move a little in order to resolve. Prior to V, you have a few different options of harmonies with good voice leading, but perhaps the most popular is ii or ii° (called the supertonic). The thing is.... ii V i is really, really common, too common especially by the time Chopin showed up on the scene with his fancy Polish dances and brilliant pianistic compositions. So he substituted something spicier. The N6 is the Neapolitan harmony (yes, like the ice cream), which lowers ii so that it's flat. ♭II has a more interesting sound, but still really good voice leading to V, so Chopin was like, "Będzie perfekcyjnie!!" and used it instead. That's N6 -> V -> i. I hope it made a little sense.

[@randomguy6934]

@@willschneider4616 thanks a lot that was really helpful I really appreciate it. 😊

[@tryinganna9883]

@@willschneider4616 it doesn't have to be separated by thirds lol jazz shows this all the time blues too the normal progressions also include minors and diminished

[@PianistJay]

Thanks for this comment. Analyzing it as a Neapolitan 6th (as it should), makes it easier to understand right away and announces the tonality from the beginning without a doubt. PLUS : as soon as the very first G of this intro is played, the rest is only a descending g minor scale with chromatic "embellissements", which confirms the implicit harmony. Appart from all this analysis, I have "discovered" a new passion in Chopin when I spent time analyzing which genres are used and mixed in every work. Op 23 is the first to illustrate his "counterpoint of genres" in such a manner ; meaning he integrated counciously - but yet so seamlessly - different genres such as waltz (theme 1 in g minor) and barcarolle (theme 2 in Eb Major), for example. So much that I wrote my entire Musicology Masters thesis on that topic ;) Have fun analyzing Chopin :) Keep up the good work !

[@PianistStefanBoetel]

Really delicate playing of the introduction. Also one could feel the depth and wideness of the sound.

[@victoromodiale]

She's even more beautiful

[@geraldandrle9930]

you are exciting even when being pedantic regarding your assessment of this piece, you are fascinating and my most inspirational piano teacher. thank you

[@nahannygoupil8188]

Mille mercis pour cette vidéo. En tant que débutante (4 ans de piano) je me focalise encore trop dans la seule lecture des notes sans rien analyser autour. Cela m'encourage à me plonger plus sérieusement dans la théorie.

[@lizthelephant]

i love the way your arms and your hands move when youre playing the piano i struggle a lot when using my whole arm playing pieces so watching you do this stuff is like wow tyr doing this next time stuff like that it makes me happy and motivated in my mind i go "wow i wish i could move my arms like she can"

[@Quickness_Fitness]

I loved this kind of video, Annique. Would definitely enjoy learning more analysis techniques from you!

[@soufkal845]

thx to the ppl who puts the lyrics i'm a frenchie it's hard to understand without subtitles, i really enjoyed the video and I learned a lot

[@AllisonOverton-k6r]

Two years late to the party - I have only just found this video, and I found it fascinating. I would happily have listened to the whole analysis - thank you so much

[@kasper47]

It took me 9 months to learn this piece and you made me feel like I should've spent 9 months for every 7 bars. Very discouraging. Also.. I want more of this! Soooooo interesting because I've never learnt it

[@AlmogD]

I first heard this piece in the anime "Your Lie in April", and I just LOVE Chopin Ballade No.1

[@azureNotsure]

Lol me too! I blame that anime for getting me so deep into classical music, not to say that that’s a bad thing

[@nerrdinho]

@@azureNotsure it distanced me from normal pop and popular rock tunes haha

[@JohnSmith-rk3td]

Try listening to the other ballades

[@chessematics]

@@nerrdinho amazing. Welcome into the best regime of the musical world.

[@victor4mp4]

the pianist movie 2022

[@leonardodelyrarodrigues3752]

Analysis and interpretation are the coolest music videos, not boring at all

[@noraluzcalugas2731]

you're very enthusiatic, Annique! Danke Schoen

[@davidw6936]

This was a wonderful presentation, packed with ideas and information. You’re great at this kind of analysis. Please do more!

[@cattymionepotter1939]

Loved this sooo much! Always feel a little bit overwhelmed by those topics, but your explanaitions helped a lot as they were systematically analyzing and then interpreting different aspects and bringing them together :)

[@triplea657aaa]

This is my favorite piece of music. I'm learning it right now and it's really wonderful.

[@bardvoit5284]

How is it going? Are you still practicing it?

[@triplea657aaa]

@@bardvoit5284 Pretty well. I've been busy job hunting, but I've made some good progress. I have over half of it memorized and can usually play the coda accurately at full speed. I still need to memorize a fair portion of it (though most of what I need to memorize are the easier parts) and I have a lot of work to do to make it great musically, but it's coming along.

[@marclopezgisbert6787]

I'm already trying to play this piece, this helps me to know more about what I'm playing. Very good video! Thanks!

[@HirrumiHassan]

Sehr gut, danke schön!! Alles perfekt und easy erklärt.

[@jerlatti]

Lovely video, divine piece, thorough interpretation (and lovely lady). Keep up the good work teutonic beauty!

[@emmatarran3241]

Yes please do make more videos like this!

[@lvhon9]

There is so such value in this video, it's unbelievable. Thank you

[@walterdavid1971]

Hi, Annique.. Learning so much from you... Appreciate your going into analysis and interpretation... How you do it as consumate Classical pianist... I can cope... And learning... At the same time, you inspire me going deeper ...take care! I love your hair!

[@TheReficul]

Wow, I'm literally just about to finish learning this piece. Perfect timing :>

[@rebsondodjidahouede3799]

Ooh the timing 😮😮

[@Swann524]

Same I’m in the middle of learning it!

[@rebsondodjidahouede3799]

@@Swann524 what?! 😂💯 Perfect!

[@MrMichcio113]

I have no idea what are you talking about in the video because I can’t even read the notes or even play the piano but I am here anyway because I love watching and listening to you ❤️

[@JuanAMatos-zx4ub]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written. Well done!

[@luisfernandezromero7841]

This format is amazing! Please do more of this, analyzing more bars and more pieces!

[@mance02]

Can’t wait for No. 4!!! My favorite.

[@jordiac5133]

I would love a serie of this videos analysing all chopin etudes

[@markaddison3596]

That A-flat major + Bb color is also used near the end of Valse op 34 no 1 which is really graceful and made a nice sparkling effect ✨✨

[@andrewc9643]

I love this development in your series. I hope you continue doing analysis videos

[@jobaquino4751]

Great lecture, sensei

[@luisb4443]

Please, more analysis and interpretation videos! I could watch these for hours.

[@nahiku8521]

I alway knew I had to study my sheets but never did because I never knew what to focus on and didn’t want to practice bad habits. I appreciate this video as it helps a lot!

[@desireechua7312]

Wow! I didn’t know so much can be said and explored in just the first 7 bars! Thank you so much for this Annique! Looking forward to your analysis and interpretation for the rest of this piece (which I’m self-learning now)!

[@romanmuller5006]

Please, go on with this videos. They are phantastic!

[@pviseskul]

Love it. It shows there’s so much to think about even for a short snippet of a piece which then leads to many possible interpretations. I definitely am looking forward to more of it, and also to you playing this piece in full 🙂

[@Brian-L]

Danke Annique! This is the theory and analysis I crave and believe this could help me become a better pianist. I’d Iove to see more of these types of videos in the future. ☺️

[@corvus1853]

I look forward to see more of this kind of videos

[@nimishchoubey6906]

I first heard this peice in Your lie in April ... that's where i started to like Chopin's music so much ... this Ballad no.1 is a masterpiece

[@marlon2080]

More more more of this!! :)

[@jukeban646]

THIS IS GOLD

[@DirkdeZwijger]

I like this type of video, very unique content on youtube like this is hard to find

[@2Darkid]

Thanks for this~! Your analysis got me really excited about relearning this piece. My favorite thing about this opening is that we don't feel home (tonic) until bar 9. Horowitz!

[@nicholashill9302]

Thanks, yes I get the notes, oh dear now comes the interpretation, the deeper listening - with melody harmony dynamics rhythm articulation form frame colour weight timing. Interesting I don't feel overwhelmed, just inspired!! Thanks.

[@manueljimenezfernandez4980]

Congratulatios, the BEST video

[@ciri151]

Nice! This is my favorite Chopin piece :D

[@aidanbpianist326]

Thank you so much for this Heart of Keys, This piece means so much to me, keep doing what you do best. God bless you.

[@ShinySalamence1]

I love analysis and I love this piece. Combining two of my favorite things? Yes please, more please. Maybe it overlaps with patreon content, but you could continue this series for pieces that you've done in the 1 minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour challenge. Maybe there's too much overlap in content tho.

[@Explorer344]

Annique I think it’s worth mentioning the opening A flat chord is a Neapolitan chord which Chopin uses in other pieces like Op 55 no 1. The main motif is also based on a D7 chord which creates a cadence to the G minor.

[@pianohero1838]

Hi Annique, liked your analysis a lot. Really helps - thank you!

[@lisayoshihama2374]

7:25 caught me so off guard I almost spat out my drink

[@ipavan]

That piece sounded so good, also liked the video and would love to see more of these

[@jbad6066]

Would absolutely love to see this analysis for this ballade’s coda 🥸🥸🥸

[@andreisavin1087]

I would love to hear how you fully interpret this wonderful ballade! Thanks for your video, you've been inspiring me lately! Have a nice day!

[@florisvanstigt2821]

Would love to watch a full video of you playing Ballade no. 1!

[@davekho2000]

How did I miss this video? How?! Fascinating look into your interpretation of the opening to Ballade No 1. Really loved it. I think a few people mentioned Ballade No 4 in the comments. I second this. Much more familiar with this piece. May give me a few insights that will help with my own interpretation. First page, at least. Although wouldn't mind a peek at the pianissimo left hand octaves on the third page, just before the mezza voce. That part always confuses me on how to interpret it.

[@johnworfin2]

So amazing! Thank you for your superb and nuanced insight and instruction - This has always been my favorite Ballade and what a gift to get to be a student in your wonderful master class here! :) 👍

[@verak6058]

I play the cello, not the piano but appreciate your analysis very much. I like listening to your thought process and hope to see more of your analysis videos!

[@jpdj2715]

You're a classy pianist indeed. I have to listen with my eyes closed or you are too much of an attraction. I love this kind of analysis and have almost no claim to formal music theory education. I understand the analysis and that's fine. What I generally seem to miss in these musical analyses is "what's the story of this piece?" With Van Beethoven's 5th that is extremely important, for example. And in my opinion, here too. One biography on Chopin I read, informs that Chopin loved Bach's music and played Bach every day, if only to maintain a steady left hand. And that steady left hand was all-important to him. The right hand was allowed to wander, as long as the left hand was steady. There's storytelling here, in the sense this is called "ballade" and the word is not only referencing a "ballad" but specifically a song for dancing. If you ever spoke with musicians that have performed live to human dancers, then you know the reproaching looks of the dancers when a player is off-beat, let alone between musicians in an orchestra joking about the rhythm section being off beat too often. As Chopin dedicated the piece to baron Stockhausen - a man - the question is what this informs about the storytelling in the ballad. The opening as a wake-up call from a man to a woman, whispering in her ear and then transitioning into a dance that ends with her saying, make some music with me? I don't know, but just guess there is more than 5ths. One thing that I certainly would not be able to recognize, is what Nikita Magaloff did in a documentary, when he pointed his student to a couple bars in the middle of a Chopin piece. She, I believe later became professor in a French conservatory, had played the notes perfectly according to the sheet music. And in the evaluation afterwards, Magaloff asked her to play these bars again, as if they were a fugue. Same notes, different result, different story. And it made so much sense, knowing that Fryderyk Franciszek was a serious Bach-lover. When I look at the sheet music, some of the directions are above the G-lines, some between the G and F. One print edition, above the G lines, says "espress." above bar 6 (the one in the video nothing) and then two bars later, the print says "dolce" between G and F lines. Is the former a right hand only instruction? The latter for both? This is technical again, detached from storytelling. Or, Annique talks about "legato" with the introduction, her sheet music says "largo" and the print I reference here says "lento". I know, the legato is in the arcs and the introduction does not call for pedal. Do you imagine the legato and hope to raise the illusion to the listener with a gentle touch, or do you create it by just releasing the first note > after< you hit the second? Somehow these instructions of legato and largo or lento seem related and one facilitates the other. To illustrate the "Polish Matter" the Chopin biography had this metaphor. Ask authors from different countries to write book about the elephant and the US author produces "How to get bigger and better elephants", the German author "An introduction to the study of the elephant, Volume I .. VII". Well, Ms. Goettler, there's prejudice to live up to regarding your analysis of this Ballade. Because I would love to hear more about it from you.

[@hk.amber.studio]

Thank you very much! I love this kind of videos and I can learn how to analyse a piece, even though I'm not a music major students. Please keep this up

[@maryk7062]

This is sensational!! Thank you so much for including the analysis & interpretation in your videos as well! I found it supper helpful and intriguing!

[@jazzhead394]

Would love to see more analysis & theory videos!

[@PierreLM]

Great format, very interesting !

[@JacquesLuu]

you won my subscription, i love this video. make it longer

[@lauhernsean6179]

I was waiting for this. Thank you for your effort

[@negarhosseini9243]

I wanted to ask you to talk a little about this topic (I mean analyze and interpretation) and I found this video today😍 I think this topic is very essential for musicians, please talk more about this❤

[@CShort149]

loved this! super cool to hear your approach and thoughts when looking at a piece

[@obigosu]

Perfect video, liked it very much! Please make this a series, analyzing the whole Ballade No.1 . Would like to hear you playing it as well :)

[@mufelo]

Oh jolly! One of my favorite all time pieces and a priority #1 wishlist item to play if I ever gain enough skill for it. Started piano at an older age and not sure if feasible, but enjoy the content nevertheless! Thank you for posting!

[@gdudas]

This was really great, thank you very much! I hope there will be more analysis and thoughts on other pieces in the future.

[@fred5784]

I love analysis & interpretation videos. BTW, your hair looks great.

[@stephenschofield6870]

This is a terrific style of video. Thank you.

[@FadedUnknown000]

Yesss, my favorite piece. Thank you 💙😊

[@99wntr]

i would LOVE to see an analysis and interpretation for the whole thing!!! would sit through all of it even if it lasts 10 hours.

[@abelxo1]

Hi Annique I like when you put more bass at the beginning, goes from dark to ligth. I'm not specialist but like the analysis you did. Also liked the close up you did

[@babakesmaeelpour5732]

I really like analysis videos More of this kind of videos whould be useful and as you said , "insight giving" .. Ballade no.4 is my suggestion And maybe more of no.1 too

[@pazzicuriosi6660]

I love this kind of videos very much. It is extremely useful and interesting, as well as very well done. When do you upload the subsequent parts? This Ballade is wonderful, one of the best music piece ever written. Thank youuuuuuuuuu!!!! Tommaso

[@songsmeanlife]

thank you so much! ❤️ pls share more videos about timing with us

[@gfsrow]

Thank you! This is very helpful.

[@dilljordan7303]

Woooooow amazing video!! Thank you so much