Part 2/2 - Chopin Ballade no 1 in G minor, Op. 23 - Analysis

Chopin's 1st Ballade in G minor has a special place in the hearts of many pianists and piano lovers. It has many characters who all speak directly and poignantly, and Chopin lets them evolve organically within the Ballade. It's a story without any explicit drama, but with intense dramatic content nevertheless. And it's especially one chord that sets the tone. With pianist Henrik Kilhamn.
▶ Part 1 Analysis: • Chopin's UNMATCHED Bal...
0:00 2nd Theme
7:09 1st Theme Return
8:51 2nd Theme Return ff
13:05 Velocity transition
15:03 Scherzando
18:20 2nd Theme Return again
22:37 1st theme Return again
24:01 Coda
Congrats if you made it all the way to the end :)
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Music: Frédéric Chopin: Ballade no. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
📄 Score: Schirmer edition, 1894, editor: Carl Mikuli, imslp.org
Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, joypixels.com
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[@ahauntinglybeautifulmelody]

i rarely comment on youtube in general, but i must say here, your channel and videos are truly amazing. Aside from the incredible musical knowledge and insightful analysis, it is the passion that you sir, let shine through these videos. We can feel your love and deep respect for these incredible works of music, the same one that brought us to your channel as we wanted to dive more deeper into these eternal melodies. It is truly great to see, on this platform, such teachers and such passionated musicians like you Henrik !

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks so much for your kind words. It's my pleasure!

[@kasiphia]

@@SonataSecrets Hello, I am also a huge fan of your channel. I was wondering if you could possibly cover some Scriabin Preludes (I saw your Prelude 15 video), in particular No.24. It is less then a minute in length (usually), so hopefully it wouldn't be too much of an ask. There are some very interesting technical, rhythmic, and musical challenges with the piece though that definitely make it worth analyzing and I would love to hear your insights as I embark on my final step of finishing this set.

[@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries]

I cannot comprehend how someone actually composed something this beautiful. And your analysis of the piece is flawless, as always.

[@peev2]

That’s my favourite Chopin piece.

[@awsomeman5646]

This is how analysis should be! You strike up the perfect balance of commentary and playing, but in an easy to understand manner. Plus, the way you describe the emotions is superb.

[@SonataSecrets]

I'm glad you like it! :)

[@kgm1965]

Like Mehdi said a couple of days ago, I also rarely comment on KZbin videos, but I have to thank you for doing this wonderful pair of videos analysing Chopin's masterpiece. A friend lent me Mr Rusbridger's book shortly after I took up the piano a few years ago. I knew the piece quite well to listen to, but had no idea how difficult it, or any other piece by Chopin, was. I quickly became absorbed in the book and almost obsessed with the piece, in part thanks to the author's hyperbole in describing its difficulties - the "trapeze artist leaps" you mentioned. I love your channel. I love the way you pick apart these wonderful pieces with great knowledge and humour ("double octave sprinkles" 😂), but the way you play the piece and pick out the chordal structure, the melodies, the third hand, etc., makes it hit home all the more. When I saw you were picking apart the Ballade, I knew it would be a good one, and I was not disappointed. I look forward to your 10-part series on the Rach 3 😁

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you for the kind words. It's my pleasure! Hehe Rach 3 is not in my repertoire yet but you never know...

[@aleksey6151]

I would love for you to analyze Chopin’s Ballade No.4!

[@NathanShipley-xz9yc]

You are seriously the best piano analyst I have ever watched thank you so much for this please don’t stop making these

[@danwilliams7354]

Your channel is amazing - there are very few people who could teach this so well - but to be able to play like you do… And the production quality too! We are not worthy

[@Seeker_forever]

This piece paraphrases my life...such a hauntingly beautiful piece 🥺😍

[@Henri.d.Olivoir]

I love your channel so much! Your analyses always open my interpretation a lot!

[@dwdei8815]

Bravo! I've been re-learning this piece and it makes my hair stand on end! There is so much in it, so much music and message.

[@hoosas5998]

Cant believe he uploaded this literally on the same day I started learning this piece. Starting on the coda… it is indeed hell to learn but worth it!

[@lindyl9486]

Thank you for the 2nd part. I was inspired by Alan Rusbridger’s PLAY IT AGAIN. With similar piano learning journey like Alan, with my high tech job I didn’t think I could recover after 3+ decades. But your teaching and analysis opened my minds and paved the way for me to practice systematically 🙏

[@Passageredenotes]

La façon dont vous expliquez les compositions, Monsieur, est fascinante. Merci ! 🤩👏👏👏

[@bofwgktaz6618]

23:23 best description of this coda I've ever heard haha

[@margarethansen7480]

Thanks!! It’s beautiful seeing this marvelous piece analised with so much passion and comprehension! Extremelly well played, even interrupting for the rare explanations for the melody and harmony!! Great work, Henrik!👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤

[@hdholl9696]

A splendid tutorial for this devilish Ballad n° 1. Not only the suggestions for interpretation, but also the remarks about the structure (with the 'guitar chords' added) are very helpful. I have read 'Play it Again' by Alan Rusbridger myself: now I 'only' have to learn to play the ballad. Also all your other videos about other pieces (eg. a Brahms waltz) are top quality. You are a great help for all those many thousands of pianists 'out there'.

[@brooklynriet7615]

Would love to see a performance on this one!

[@victorevelyn3934]

Thanks for the helpful analysis of this beautiful composition. I am only an amateur pianist, but am now fired up relearning to perform it despite increasing age and declining health. I found the harmonic and structural analyses especially helpful.

[@johnleahy5853]

I am also of advancing age with some health issues & even though only at a quite early intermediate level, I found this video most interesting and very well presented, although at a level above me. Like many of the other classical composers, Chopin was ahead of his time. Full marks to Sonata Secrets for this. Thankyou.

[@choihoiyin4208]

Keep up with your playing. I have the same desire like you.

[@jacobhoover4393]

You can do it! It’s really not as bad as it looks. There are about 4 actually challenging sections, and with practice the coda becomes the only real issue. The coda is pretty easy to learn but hard perform. If you set aside about 2 months you can play this ballade (albeit at a slow tempo). Watch Paul Barton’s tutorial for this piece for extra help You got this!

[@flawlessyt_7080]

Thank you so much for both parts of this, you really gave me an insight into this, even deeper than I had before!!

[@ronl7131]

Genius Chopin, from one page Prelude to monumental Masterpiece Ballades, Sonatas, Scherzos, etc

[@rajx82]

This is one of the best things I’ve seen on KZbin. Thank you for this amazing analysis! Learning this piece and this is a huge help!

[@galibbashirov1526]

Great work Henrik! Phenomenal. One thing I love about your original analysis is when you show, in some instances, how the progression of the piece could have been different (perhaps more banal for lack of a better work), but Chopin decided to go a different route, making the end result truly magical (like at 11:50). I think more emphasis on this aspect and further analysis would be fantastic in future Chopin pieces.

[@angiepearl9675]

Thank you for all the work and passion in making this great video. A pure pleasure to watch!

[@zerozok]

Delightful! Great skill and engaging commentary. Thank you for this video, Henrik. I'll stick around for the ride.

[@shochre6497]

Always happy to see notifications from your channel!

[@Rivse]

You are so inspiring. Thank you. Du er utroligt inspirerende - tusind tak💗

[@stevenbeer6005]

That was great analysis, great playing, ad great sounding piano! Cheers!

[@michaelacord228]

Such a brilliant analysis! I love this piece but have never attempted to learn it. I learned so much from your analysis of the work! You always break it down so even amateur pianists can understand it. Thank you!!!

[@casualcadaver]

Love your videos, I dont understand much of what your talking about but its nice to see someone play and breakdown such an amazing piece.

[@jeremystephenson5990]

Beautiful performance and analysis. Really cannot thank you enough

[@ruthtalley242]

Fabulous interpretation of this detailed piece, including all the subtle complexities of Chopin's music. And thanks for admitting that some passages take time, patience, and work even for skilled artists like yourself.

[@stevehunt2125]

Wonderful analysis. I can play this (badly) and you shine a lot of light on the structure. Thanks.

[@jenskluge7188]

That is so brilliantly explained. Thanks

[@mathematician1681]

Amazingly brilliant analysis!

[@TheNendja]

So great and spontaneous explaining.Not to mention effortless playing 😊

[@ethanbrownpiano]

These are really helpful for composing!

[@manuel2atack]

You're amazing. I am a classical trained flutist and I really enjoy your videos and analysis of piano music

[@choihoiyin4208]

Thank you for your teaching! Very GOOD!

[@svrfan]

what a piece! and what a great video!!

[@EnriqueGiliOrtiz]

Thank you for sharing! Best regards.

[@-DSet]

Lovely interpretation, one of the best I've heard! Any chance you could upload a full performance?

[@ddjjuull]

Wonderful, thanks !

[@floring67]

I've always felt like in the coda, Chopin was kinda evoking the last part of Beethoven's "Appassionata". I was playing both pieces at some point.

[@skysstillblue1123]

1:41 even the left hand pattern already sounds beautiful🥰

[@antiiczzz5671]

Thanks for your work man this is helpfull 👏👏👏

[@500king2]

This is my favourite piece

[@zeru1175]

Yessss been waiting for the second part, really good stuff :) I wanted to ask if you have played Scriabin's poeme op 32 no 1, I would love to see your take on that piece

[@SonataSecrets]

I haven't played it, should check it out.

[@pos_itronium]

by the way, the Neapolitan chord noted in the coda is the same as the Neapolitan chord in the very beginning. thanks for the video! i like videos dedicated to the analysis of pieces, that's very interesting!

[@STERNWAERTS]

such a wonderful video of a most breathtaking piece. once again it is clear that music is the greatest of all arts and the piano the greatest of all instruments. as i said, breathtaking.

[@larakuerten]

Love it❤❤

[@PedroCristian]

28:50 G minor melodic not D 😅 I'm playing close attention. Thank you for all those insight. My journey on this monumental piece is midway.

[@jimjohn2652]

"Beethoven angry" I am going to steal this

[@pianoman8642]

If I split my piano practice hours between bars 130-133 of this and every other piece ever the two would be about equal. Seriously how can a run be THAT difficult??!?

[@hotharvey2]

8:02 my favourite part

[@Jounas1123]

Isn't there a little bit of the same contour in the coda's right hand lower voice at the beginning?

[@nezkeys79]

14:13 sounds a jazz diminished scale lol (whole half whole half etc)

[@ataru4646]

I havent learned piano yet. This is my dream piece to play. Your analysis has honestly made me see things in this piece I haven't ever noticed. It's even more genius than I thought. Thank you for breaking this down

[@Hjominbonrun]

ey man, if only we could have your advice in the ear while we are trying to learn these extreme pieces, Everyone would be able to play the piano well.

[@nezkeys79]

The emotes are quality 😅❤

[@magdakos4690]

Hiya, that was a fantastic analysis. Thank you so much for posting this, I've really learned a lot about one of my favorite piano pieces. Instant like and subscription from me. Are you planning to make a similar interpretation of a Ballade in F minor, too?

[@user-uz8cb8yj1p]

27:58 wait I think I heard simillar melody in the piece by beethoven... that sounds so familiar

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

The introduction to the first movement of the Pathetique sonata.

[@MrMaximilianno]

👏👏👏🎶🎵💓💖

[@RaptorT1V]

4:54 Why do you claim that in late Chopin we won't hear such works where the harmony doesn't change, where there is complete relaxation? I can give you one example of a late Chopin piece that will shatter your assertion. It's his Berceuse in D-flat major, Op.57

[@LazlosPlane]

You basically just "inch-wormed" your way through the piece: first comes this, then this, then he does this!!! Oh, then that...." You have said precious little about the WHY this such a special piece. Sorry. I'm sue you're a fine pianist but analytically, in terms of serious criticism,, there is precious little here.