Chopin’s final ballade, composed in 1842, is the greatest of the four he wrote for piano. It’s intricately structured sonata form shows the composer at the height of his powers. Indeed, it is certainly one of the finest examples of tremendous depth and breadth of which the form is capable.
Like the other ballades, the Ballade No. 4 is said to be inspired by the poetry of Adam Mickiewicz; specifically, a poem by the title of “The Three Budrys” in which three brothers are sent by their father to seek treasure, but instead return with three Polish wives.
A true Romantic, Chopin well understood that music is too abstract in and of itself to adequately portray specific imagery or characters.
The poem’s inherent narrative is lost in translation through the musical medium, leaving the listener, fueled by his own imagination, to formulate her/his personal narrative.
Here is pianist Seong-Jin Cho to play this lovely music for you:
