Brahms Ballade 10.4
I’ve been meaning to record this one for a long time.
Johannes Brahms
Ballade Op 10 No 4
Download (11:47 / 13.6 M)
This is one of those mysterious and introspective pieces like Chopin’s nocturne 15.3 that has a strange logic all its own. It’s low and, even in the crescendos, somehow hushed throughout. There’s not a trace of virtuosic flashiness in it; it’s definitely not a piece that’s about the pianist. The way it unfolds is … well, a nice fellow from Paris named Frank who emailed me about piano recording, and who is also learning to play it, said it well: it’s almost as if the whole piece were a single long phrase. And it ends by dissolving and fading away — a sentence without a period.
I would expect a piece like this to be a late work, from a composer with much wisdom and little to prove to the rest of the world — think, for example, of Beethoven’s Opus 111 or Shostakovich’s late string quartets — but Brahms wrote this when he was 21, or maybe 20. To see inside that young man’s mind…! The mystery deepens!
In spite of the mystery, or really because of it, this is one of my favorite pieces. My interpretation is a little unorthodox, but then so it the music. I hope you enjoy it!
Hey Paul,
I listened to your recording of the Brahms Ballade. I have to say, it was very impressive. You have a natural musicality and sensitivity with the piano. I was duely impressed with the quality of the recording you made. I presume that you made it at home.
I’m not sure if you remember who I am but I think I saw you at the Acadia when a group of us (i.e. me, kim, denise, wade, sean and beth) had a performance.
I’m curious to know where and with whome you’ve studied since I’m in the precess of transfering from the UofM and am looking into potential teachers and schools.
Thanks for your music, I found it inspirational.
Alex
Hi Alex! Of course I remember who you are — and your remark about natural musicality certainly applies in return. I hope I can one day play a Bach fugue as masterfully as you do!
My musical mentor is Donald Betts at Macalester, who is a wonderful, wonderful teacher. There’s actually a recording of him on this site, though it can only give a little glimpse of what his teaching is like. I’ll get in touch by email; I’d love to hear about your plans.
Oh, and yes, I make these recordings at home. I keep meaning to post a description of my method…one day I will get around to it!
My cat and I have been enjoying your podcasts. Especially liked this Brahms Ballade 10.4. Thanks for sharing & keep it coming.
Happy New Year!
Hi Paul,
Thank you for posting a recording of this magical ballade by Brahms! Of course I like the whole album which is a pure romantic work. To me, death is the romantic element which binds the 4 pieces together.
From the dark atmosphere of the first ballade with the sounds of bells tolling someone’s death, to the “berceuse” of the 2nd ballade, next to the nevrotic 3rd ballade… here is this marvellous 4th ballade.
The first part is like a “reverie” (i.e a dreaming), then the second part is blurring everyting, with the sad melody floating over the harmony. And back to the melody of the beginning with a profound and hypnotic sadness… so great !
I am much amazed at the way you master the phrases especially at this very slow tempo. Brahms indicates “Andante” for the piece and would suggest not to go too slow - unlike Adagio.
Anyway, you’re doing so good and your approach reminds me of Arrau who was always stretching phrases to put the emphasis on their beauty and their poetry which need all but a rigorous sense of rythm.
As you mentioned, I was working on this piece but I couldn’t achieve it well so I’ll work on it later… that is the crualty of music to me : the pieces I love are not automatically those I can play best.
Encore merci !
Frank
Frank — I don’t hear such a specific programmatic meaning in the music, which is very abstract to me, pure form and emotion. But I certainly see how your ideas fit the shape. I am always fascinated how differently different people find meaning in music.
I’m really glad you like it, and if it makes you feel better, I have been working on this piece for about 4 years! I also left and came back to it a few times.
This tempo is just what I came to after all that time. But listen closely: my A section hovers in the 80-96 bpm range, which is certainly andante, and the B section is more like 66 but it’s più lento – “slower” – so I’m not even taking such a great liberty with Brahms’s tempo (though I think it’s fine to take such liberties). At the other end of the spectrum is Julius Katchen, who gets through the whole piece in 5:35! Looking around on the iTunes Music Store, 9 minutes seems typical.
Anyway, thanks for your good words. I hope I’ll get to hear your version one day!
Though I’ve played and listened –intently– all my life, now of 57 years, I didn’t know Brahms until my wife introduced us, and I’ve been fascinated ever since. Your reading of the Ballade is in all ways “Brahmsian", rich, and indeed, mysterious. Thank you especially for allowing the tone to ring out l-o-n-g at the very end…. to silence.
Is there anything else so magically, endlessly captivating as good music? The hallmark of the “good stuff:, it seems to me, is that it HAS no bottom. This is particularly true of Brahms, whose harmonic density is almost like a hall of mirrors, and deeply, deeply felt.
Danke schoen, Paul.
Wow. I’ve never listened to this before. I actually teared up which is not like me at all. Took me completely by surprise. Beautiful. Thank you for making it available to me.
(By the way, did I hear a few bars of “Somewhere (A Place for Us)” in there? I think someone might have lifted it from this Brahms piece.)
“Somewhere” is actually lifted, as far as I can tell, from the slow movement of Beethoven’s 5th piano concerto (of which, ironically, I have a recording with Bernstein conducting). I hadn’t caught it in this piece, but maybe now that I’m looking for it….
Warm thanks to all for the wonderful comments.
Hey Paul
Vey nice. I was wondering if you could put up the othre Ballades(esp. no. 3) and the piano concerto no. 2. I have somehow fallen in love with Brahms’s music. Its very grand and beautiful.
Beautiful. The slow tempo is mesmerizing thanks to your wonderful touch (and great recording). I have gone crazy for this piece for the last month and have listened to the few versions on YouTube; my favorite is the Paulo Brasil. I haven’t checked my old record collection yet to see if I own any versions. I did listen to A.B. Michelangeli’s version thanks to Rhapsody.com; I always love his Olympian touch. Even in that rarified company I really like your version. I will now have to listen to all your other recordings. Thank you very much for posting such beautiful music and beautiful playing.