The fantastically strange opening to Chopin's ballade

[@MosesM514]

Simple harmony taken to its highest level.

[@TenorCantusFirmus]

It's gorgeous - Know this piece well, but every time is like listening to it the first one.

[@MusicalScreaming]

i remember when i first heard this i just thought it was in Ab major based off the first two bars. absolutely crazy the way he effectively trolls us at the start

[@skylarlimex]

And then he writes another ballade actually in Ab major 😆

[@Mazurking]

I learn so much every time I watch your videos. Many thanks.

[@skylarlimex]

You're very welcome!

[@jacksondavis9622]

The way the melody interacts with the left hand during the passage at 1:57 belongs to some of the most beautiful writing I’ve ever heard

[@Pietro-mc3pp]

that C natural instead of C sharp at 2:04 changes everything!! :( so sad that interpreter did not follow that - but still, masterpiece

[@Shahdmansour44]

This hesitant rise to the central melody gives the listener an impression of improvisation, which can be translated to despair and loss of hope. This aspect is what I believe Chopin tried to instill in this ethereal ballade.

[@johnchessant3012]

wow I'd never heard it identified as a Neapolitan chord, that is indeed mindblowing!

[@skylarlimex]

It's awesome isn't it

[@margarethansen7480]

Increadible harmony❤ Thanks for that

[@ZinzanModelling]

Dear Skylar, Thanks for putting words to the thinking in this piece. Lovely playing... Regards, Z

[@Poeme340]

Perhaps the first great classical piano piece I heard as a teen, decades ago-I remember that it “haunted” me with its subtle alternation between dark and light and its elegant, technical wizardry. There seemed to be a sublime, mystical intelligence behind it that was, well, a little unnerving. It made other music that I’d previously heard seem clumsy. I still feel this way sometimes when I listen to Chopin. I appreciate your informative analysis!👌

[@rogeliogilgonzalez]

Thank you❤

[@solipsist3025]

Chopin ❤

[@AlbertoSegovia.]

Gorgeous and unfrequented accentuations!!

[@maulik95]

Genius. Nothing like it

[@OfficialWorldChampion]

the enharmonic part was the most surprising to me

[@skylarlimex]

Where?

[@cate48927]

Amazing

[@kucukadam216]

This so awesome please cover the whole ballade. Maybe ballade no 3 and 4 later on?

[@skylarlimex]

Not a big fan of the second I see 😆

[@beakt]

Have you noticed almost everyone, including in this performance, counts the beats wrong? They extend the eighth-note rest before the rising figures twice; they tend to get it right on the fourth of those where there's a variation on the rhythms and no rest. It always bugged me because Chopin supposedly had a metronome going all the time and I've wondered if everyone plays it like that because that's how they're used to hearing it. Kind of like a virus stuck in the music. I've heard recordings or performances where it was done right, though.

[@skylarlimex]

It's the rubato they add at the end of each small phrase, a small ritardando that leads to the "appearance" of a longer rest. Definitely depends on the pianist but I find a lack of rubato results in a rigid performance.

[@levietviphographer]

very interesting ! thanks for sharing.

[@nourytime9804]

Great as usual, now do a vid on the coda to finish this ballade!

[@skylarlimex]

Haha maybe!

[@RhodesyYT]

@@skylarlimex @nourytime9804 would the coda count as an early pre form of rag/jazz like the butterfly etude that definitely counts maybe thats worth a video as well

[@KingstonCzajkowski]

Goodness, 1:46 is terrible. You can’t hear any of it, and it’s a soprano’s coloratura - but it just becomes a blur when played like that. I love Wang but hate how she played that passage in this specific instance

[@michaeloconnor9581]

Thank you for your lovely content

[@skylarlimex]

You're definitely right! If anything I might do no.1/11

[@EL3C]

Can you explain the harmony of the prelude in E minor op 28 no 4? haha

[@skylarlimex]

I think there are lots of videos explaining it already, but I might make one in the future!

[@joaobalducci1701]

I wouldn't say he modulated to Bb there. It's too short of a segment. Also, a cadence alone isn't enough to establish a modulation. It's a secondary function.

[@skylarlimex]

I agree, it's more of a tonicisation as I stated. But for notation's sake I found it easier to write Bb

[@joaobalducci1701]

@@skylarlimex I'm being picky here, but I'd write "{" + "of Bb" instead of "Bb:".

[@skylarlimex]

@@joaobalducci1701 yes indeed, I've used that sometimes but in certain cases I find the former to be more accessible

[@blscksholz]

❤

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

"Chopin's Ballade" makes it sound like he only wrote one of them. There's four.

[@ohiomyfired]

ok

[@BrunoGarciaMusic]

ok

[@Gabe-zm9vh]

Ok

[@chehavu]

ok

[@eliasabbas8450]

​@@Hameln1hi

[@jonathan130]

Bad rendition, should have picked zimerman