Unlike its predecessors, this ballade has no clear link to the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz. Some observers have suggested as inspiration Mickiewicz's
, about siblings who go off to capture sables, disappear for a while, and ultimately return sharing a wife. It would be very difficult, though, to trace this story through Chopin's music, and the ballade's sequence of moods could easily apply to many other stories, or no particular story at all.
The F minor ballade, dedicated to Baronne Nathalie de Rothschild, follows the general pattern of its predecessors in relying on episodes of contrasting mood and thematic transformation, alternating very simple phrases with passages of great elaboration. The gentle opening is harmonically ambiguous, but settles into a delicate, wistful, decidedly F minor Slavic theme. Chopin repeats the theme, but not exactly; he alters the phrasing and the elaboration of the melody in subtle, expressive ways. The theme's next appearance is more troubled and fragmented; it becomes more agitated with the addition of an ornamental countermelody. After a climax, a lilting chordal section arrives. This material grows increasingly elaborate, and soon begins to intertwine with the first theme. Chopin thins the musical texture, brings everything to a brief halt, then reintroduces the first theme in a particularly dark, desolate mode. From this point, he essentially repeats the patterns he established in the work's first half, except that now the music is always more restless, with more complex accompanying lines and a higher pitch of excitement. The final section is particularly turbulent, ending with four feverish chords. ~ James Reel, All Music Guide
| A Chopin Recital, 1952-1963 |
2003 |
| A Personal Collection [Box Set] |
2007 |
| Abbey Simon Plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
1990 |
| Alexander Paley plays Chopin |
|
| Alfred Cortot plays Chopin |
|
| Alfred Cortot: The Master Classes |
2005 |
| An Anniversary Tribute [Box Set] |
2003 |
| An Hour with Chopin |
2007 |
| Anna Malikova Plays Fredric Chopin |
1991 |
| Artur Rubinstein |
|
| Artur Rubinstein Recital (1970) |
|
| Bach: French Overture / Chopin: Four Ballades |
|
| Ballades: Brahms, Chopin |
|
| Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 27 No. 1; Liszt: Piano Sonata; Chopin: Ballade No. 4; Nocturne Op. 62 No. 1; Scherzo No.1 |
1999 |
| Beethoven: Two Rondos/Bagatelles/Chopin: Etudes Op.10 &25/Ballades |
|
| Benno Moiseiwitsch |
1999 |
| Benno Moiseiwitsch plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
2000 |
| Best of Chopin [2 CDs] |
2004 |
| Brahms, Chopin: Ballades |
1997 |
| Brahms: Paganini-Variationen; Chopin: Polonaise; Liszt: Réminiscences |
2007 |
| Cherkassky: Chopin |
2001 |
| Chopin |
2001 |
| Chopin |
2001 |
| Chopin Adagios |
2008 |
| Chopin Complete Edition (Box Set) |
|
| Chopin Greatest Hits |
2006 |
| Chopin Played by Madeleine Forte |
2001 |
| Chopin Recital |
|
| Chopin [Hybrid SACD] |
2003 |
| Chopin for Lovers |
2003 |
| Chopin for Romantics |
2005 |
| Chopin the Dramatist |
1994 |
| Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 24 Preludes; Ballade in F minor |
|
| Chopin: 24 Préludes |
|
| Chopin: 24 Préludes, Op. 28; 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades |
1994 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades, Tarantelle and 14 Waltzes |
1998 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades/Barcarolle, Op.60/Fantasie in F |
1988 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades/Fantaisie/Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzi |
1995 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; 4 Scherzi |
1990 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Barcarolle; Fantaisie; Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie, Op. 49; Prelude, Op. 45 |
|
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Fantaisie; Barcarolle; 4 Mazurkas |
2008 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballades; Scherzos; Mazurkas |
2005 |
| Chopin: 4 Ballads; 4 Scherzi |
1999 |
| Chopin: 4 Impromptus / 4 Mazurkas / 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: Ballades |
1992 |
| Chopin: Ballades & Etudes |
|
| Chopin: Ballades & Nocturnes |
2009 |
| Chopin: Ballades & Polonaises |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No1; Ballades No3 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No1; Ballades No3 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No1; Scherzos No2 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No4; Beethoven: Sonatas for piano No18 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No4; Fantasie in Ffm |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No4; Polonaises No7 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades No4; Schumann: Phantasiestücke Op12 |
|
| Chopin: Ballades Nos 1-4; Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année, Italie |
1997 |
| Chopin: Ballades Nos. 1 & 4; Etudes; 3 Waltzes; Scherzo; Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: Ballades and Fantasies |
|
| Chopin: Ballades, Impromptus |
|
| Chopin: Ballades, Mazurkas, Polonaises |
2003 |
| Chopin: Ballades/Barcarolle/Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: Ballades; Mazurkas; Polonaises |
2003 |
| Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata |
1993 |
| Chopin: Ballades; Third Sonata |
1993 |
| Chopin: Ballads/Andante Spianato |
1994 |
| Chopin: Ballady; 3 Nokturny |
2006 |
| Chopin: Bolero |
1998 |
| Chopin: Cello Sonata Op. 65; Polonaise Brillante Op. 3; Balladen Op. 47 & Op. 52 |
|
| Chopin: Compact Edition (Box Set) |
|
| Chopin: Complete Piano Music (Box Set) |
1995 |
| Chopin: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1 |
1999 |
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Complete Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: Etudes, Ballades, Waltzes |
2001 |
| Chopin: Etudes; Ballads; Dufourt: La ligne gravissant la Chute |
2008 |
| Chopin: Four Ballades & Four Scherzos |
2004 |
| Chopin: Four Ballades and Fantaisie |
2002 |
| Chopin: Four Ballades: Liszt: Sonata in B minor |
|
| Chopin: Four Ballades; Barcarolle |
1981 |
| Chopin: His Greatest Masterpieces (Box Set) |
1996 |
| Chopin: Impromptus No4; Ballades No1 |
|
| Chopin: Impromptus; Ballades; Berceuse |
|
| Chopin: Intégrale de l'oeuvre pour piano seul (Box Set) |
|
| Chopin: Les dernières oeuvres, Vol. 1 (1842) |
|
| Chopin: Mazurkas, Ballades, Waltzes, Nocturne, Andante Spinato, Grande Polonaise Brillante |
1999 |
| Chopin: Minute Waltz & Other Works |
1998 |
| Chopin: Music for Piano |
|
| Chopin: Music for Piano |
1994 |
| Chopin: Nikita Magaloff |
|
| Chopin: Nocturne, Op. 48 No. 1; Ballades Nos. 3 & 4; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition |
2004 |
| Chopin: Nocturnes; 4 Ballades |
1997 |
| Chopin: Nocturnes; Romantic Piano Etudes & Preludes |
2006 |
| Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1; The 4 Ballades |
|
| Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 |
2008 |
| Chopin: Piano Masterworks [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Chopin: Piano Music |
1994 |
| Chopin: Piano Music |
2001 |
| Chopin: Piano Music (Complete) Vol. 3 (Box Set) |
1993 |
| Chopin: Piano Sonata No. 3; Ballade No. 4; Waltzes; Mazurkas; Barcarolle |
2008 |
| Chopin: Piano Sonatas 2 & 3; Scherzi; Ballades |
2003 |
| Chopin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3; Ballade No. 4; Fantasy in F minor; Barcarolle |
2009 |
| Chopin: Piano Sonatas; Nocturnes |
1994 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
2002 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works |
1998 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
1999 |
| Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works |
2001 |
| Chopin: Piano Works [Box Set] |
1997 |
| Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 2 |
|
| Chopin: Piano Works, Vol. 4 |
2001 |
| Chopin: Preludes & Ballades |
1993 |
| Chopin: Preludes & Ballades |
2001 |
| Chopin: Préludes, Op. 28 |
|
| Chopin: Scherzos & Ballades |
2005 |
| Chopin: Scherzos & Ballades |
1996 |
| Chopin: Solo Piano, Vol. 1 |
2003 |
| Chopin: Sonata in B flat minor; Berceuse; Ballade No. 4 in F minor |
2003 |
| Chopin: Sonatas for piano No2; Ballades No1 |
|
| Chopin: Sonatas for piano No2; Etudes No5 |
|
| Chopin: Sonatas for piano No2; Scherzos No2 |
1995 |
| Chopin: The Complete Piano Works, Vol. 3: Ballades |
1991 |
| Chopin: The Complete Works [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Chopin: The Four Ballades; Berceuse Op. 57; Barcarolle Op. 60; Scherzo No. 4, Op. 54 |
1999 |
| Chopin: The Four Ballades; F Minor Fantasie; Berceuse; Liszt: Liebesträume; Petrarch Sonnets; Three Concert Studies |
1995 |
| Chopin: The Masterpieces for Piano, Vol. 2 |
2003 |
| Chopin: The Piano Works [Box Set] |
1995 |
| Chopin: The Piano Works [Box Set] |
|
| Chopin: The Scherzos, Ballades, and Waltzes |
1989 |
| Chopin: The Three Sonatas; The Four Scherzos; The Four Ballades; The Barcarolle; The Fantasy |
1999 |
| Chopin: Valse, Polonaise |
2002 |
| Chopin: Works for Piano |
2007 |
| Chopin: Works for Piano |
1998 |
| Chopin: Œuvres pour piano [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Chopin:Four Ballades/Four Scherzi |
1994 |
| Chopins Balaldes & Scherzi |
|
| Classic Piano |
1994 |
| Classical Library |
1997 |
| Classical Top 1000 [Box Set] |
|
| Claudio Arrau Performs Chopin [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Claudio Arrau Performs Chopin [Box Set] |
2003 |
| Clemens Berg plays Chopin, Berg, Webern, Trojahn & Ginastera |
2008 |
| Complete Classical Music Library: The Piano, Vol. 1 [Box Set] |
2006 |
| Complete Josef Hofmann, Vol. 6 |
1998 |
| Cortot Plays Chopin |
1991 |
| Cortot Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1925-29 Recordings |
|
| Cziffra in Tokyo, 1964 |
2009 |
| DeGaetano Plays Chopin |
1998 |
| DeGaetano Plays Chopin |
1998 |
| Deutsche Grammophon Centenary Collection, 1978-1987 (Box Set) |
|
| Dinner for Two [Universal] |
2001 |
| Domenico Scarlatti; Muzio Clementi; Fryderyk Chopin; Sergei Rachmaninov |
1999 |
| Early London Records: Chopin, Beethoven |
|
| Edward Auer Plays Chopin |
1992 |
| Famous Composers [Box Set] |
2006 |
| Famous Piano Works |
1994 |
| Freddy Kempf Plays Chopin |
2000 |
| Frederic Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op 28 |
1996 |
| Frederic Chopin: Four Ballades, Grande Polonaise Brillante/Polonaise-fantaisie |
1995 |
| Frédéric Chopin, Vol. 1 |
1999 |
| Frédéric Chopin: Ballades, Impromptus & Preludes |
|
| Frédéric Chopin: Famous Piano Works |
|
| Frédéric Chopin: Piano Works |
|
| Frédéric Chopin: Solo Piano Works |
2004 |
| Gary Gillispie Plays Chopin |
2006 |
| George Walker in Concert |
2002 |
| Georges Cziffra: Ses Enregistrements Studio, 1956-1986 [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Georges Cziffra: Ses Enregistrements Studio, 1956-1986 [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Golden Piano [Collector's Edition] [Box Set] |
2008 |
| Golden Piano, Vol. 1 |
2008 |
| Grand Piano: Liszt & Chopin |
1996 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 1) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition (Box 2) (Box Set) |
1999 |
| Great Pianists of the Century |
1996 |
| György Cziffra, Piano |
1998 |
| György Kukorelly joue Chopin |
2003 |
| Harmonia Mundi 50: The Fiftieth Anniversary Boxed Set [Box Set] |
2007 |
| Horowitz Plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
1990 |
| Horowitz Plays Chopin, Vol. 3 |
1993 |
| Horowitz at the Met |
1982 |
| Horowitz at the Met |
1982 |
| Horowitz at the Met |
1982 |
| Ingrid Fliter Plays Chopin |
|
| Ivan Moravec |
1998 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays (Box Set) |
2001 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays Chopin |
2001 |
| Ivan Moravec Plays Chopin, Vol.2 |
1994 |
| Jerome Rose Plays Chopin Live in Concert [DVD Video] |
2007 |
| Jorge Bolet Plays |
|
| Joseph Fennimore in Concert II |
1995 |
| Krystian Zimerman |
1998 |
| Last Major Piano Works |
|
| Les Rarissimes de Samson François |
2004 |
| Les Rarissimes de Thierry de Brunhoff: Weber, Chopin, Schumann |
2004 |
| Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1; Chopin: Four Ballades |
1998 |
| Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1; Chopin: Scherzos No2 |
|
| Live in Japan |
2007 |
| Live in Recital |
|
| Malcuzynski plays great romantic piano music |
2000 |
| Maria Tipo, Piano |
2000 |
| Maria Tipo: Piano |
|
| Michael Ponti Live Vol. 7 |
|
| Mindru Katz plays Frédéric Chopin, Vol. 1 |
2008 |
| Moiseivitch Joue Frédéric Chopin/Robert Schumann |
|
| Natan Brand In Recital |
1992 |
| Natan Brand in Concert, 1982-1990: The Legacy, Vol. 1 |
2004 |
| Oleg Marshev in Recital |
2008 |
| Paderewski Plays Chopin, Vol.2 |
|
| Paperno Plays Chopin |
1996 |
| Paul Badura-Skoda: A Man and His Music |
2004 |
| Paul Komen plays Chopin |
1997 |
| Pawl Zawadzki Plays Chopin |
1995 |
| Peter Katin Plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
|
| Pianist of the Century (Box) |
|
| Piano Masterpieces |
|
| Player Piano 2: Chopin played by Pianists around 1900 |
2006 |
| Polish Pianists on the 15th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition |
|
| Presenting Vanessa Perez |
2005 |
| Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition Of Belgium 1951-2001 (Box Set) |
|
| Queen Elizabeth Music Competition Vol. 11 |
|
| Raoul Koczalski Plays Chopin |
|
| Raul Koczalski: Pianist & Composer, Vol. 4: Chopin, Koczalski |
1998 |
| Razor Blades, Little Pills and Big Pianos |
2009 |
| Recital Chopin |
1987 |
| Reflections |
2009 |
| Richter Collection, Vol.12 |
|
| Richter in Prague |
1999 |
| Robert Casadesus plays Chopin, Schumann, Ravel, Fauré, De Séverac |
|
| Robert Hamilton |
2000 |
| Romantic World of Chopin's Piano |
|
| Ronald Smith plays Chopin, Vol. 1 |
1999 |
| Rubinstein Collection, Vol. 45 |
1999 |
| Ruth Slenczynska Plays Chopin and Liszt Live |
1997 |
| Samson François |
1999 |
| Samuil Feinberg in Sound and Thought |
2005 |
| Schubert: Piano Sonata, D598; Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor; Chopin: Ballade No. 4 |
2001 |
| Siepmann: The Life and Works of Chopin |
2001 |
| Solomon |
1999 |
| Sviatoslav Richter Greatest Hits |
|
| Sviatoslav Richter à Prague [Box Set] |
|
| Sviatoslav Richter: In Memoriam |
|
| Tanya Vegvary Plescia, Pianist |
2007 |
| The Art of Guiomar Novaes |
1994 |
| The Art of Youra Guller, 1895-1980 |
1986 |
| The Best Chopin [Best Buy Exclusive] |
2005 |
| The Best Of Chopin |
1995 |
| The Best Of Chopin |
1995 |
| The Best of Chopin |
1995 |
| The Best of Chopin |
1999 |
| The Boston Recital |
|
| The Chopin Album |
|
| The Chopin Ballades & Scherzos [Hybrid SACD] |
1984 |
| The Chopin Collection |
2006 |
| The Chopin Collection [Box Set] |
1991 |
| The Chopin Collection [Box Set] |
1991 |
| The Chopin Collection: The Ballades; The Scherzos |
1984 |
| The Chopin Experience |
1994 |
| The Chopin of Mexico plays Chopin, Vol. 2 |
2008 |
| The Complete Recordings Of Chopin |
1993 |
| The Essential Arthur Rubinstein |
2009 |
| The Legacy: Michael Studer [Box Set] |
2007 |
| The Life and Works of Frédéric Chopin |
2001 |
| The Monet Collection: Piano Moods (Box Set) |
|
| The Only Chopin Album You Will Ever Need |
2007 |
| The Piano Collection [Box Set] |
|
| The Piano Collection, CD 3 |
|
| The Poor, Sad Angel: A Chopin Recital |
1997 |
| The Romantic Era |
2005 |
| The Romantic Piano |
2005 |
| The Rubinstein Collection (Limited Edition) [Box Set] |
1999 |
| The Ultimate Most Relaxing Chopin in the Universe |
2008 |
| The Very Best of Chopin |
2006 |
| The Very Best of Chopin |
2006 |
| The World Of Chopin |
1995 |
| The World Of Chopin (1931-1943) |
|
| The World's Greatest Composers: Chopin [Collector's Edition Music Tin] |
2008 |
| The World's Greatest Composers: Chopin [Collector's Edition] |
2008 |
| Tiegermann: The Lost Legend of Cairo |
1999 |
| Ultimate Chopin [Box Set] |
2006 |
| Violin: Greatest Hits |
2004 |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy Plays Chopin |
2001 |
| Vladimir Ashkenazy Plays Chopin [Hybrid SACD] |
2001 |
| Vlado Perlemuter Plays Chopin (Box Set) |
1993 |
