So I kind of forgot to link this before. Here's an old video of me playing (most of- I think the camera died...) the coda to the first ballade. It's not a recent video, and I'd also ask that you keep in mind that I'm self-taught. But I think it's not bad considering all of that. ua-cam.com/video/eptdCHdLE6w/v-deo.html
Sometimes we don't even realise how lucky our generation is for being able to listen to the most perfect pieces ever composed/played in history, whenever and wherever we want.
And instead, we complain about how the ad at the end of the video/music is annoying. I mean they are but some of us even bring politic in the conversation.
@@segmentsAndCurves Don't be sorry, your opinion is important as well. I agree with your opinion that people tend to complain a lot about minor inconveniences these days, like what's the hurry? It's not like we're all dying tomorrow.
Honestly the 4th ballade is something special. The other three are great, but the 4th is just on another level. It isn't everyday that you hear a 9:8 polyrhythm in a piece of music from the common-practice period.
I feel the same, romantic and something else the other ones doesn’t have. Don’t get me wrong, i love the other 3 ballades, but for me 3 it’s more musical and have a deeper meaning
@@frankeylorenzo I guess its the major tonality, makes it more joyful. Its also the ballade that plays with themes best, recapitulations are so integrative with the piece progress
I personally like no. 2's coda the best. Just intense, fiery and I love the "melody" there. It almost sounds scary and devilish when Zimmerman plays those rising-chord-arpeggio things. Probably ballad no. 1 is a close second for me, I feel it gives it a perfect and cohesive ending. Ballad 1 itself is a perfect piece of music. That being said, I love Ballad 4's and 3's codas, in fact, I love how 4 goes into borderline atonality. And no.3's constant perfect cadences at its climax make me lose my mind and rewind to that part on repeat. [EDIT]: Okay, so y'all are considering No.4's coda to start earlier than I considered it. In that case, I freaking love No. 4's surprise cadence in C major (dominant) right before the "atonal" part. Maybe it's overused, doesn't matter to me either way.
@@marcus4403 I'm pretty sure the other guy wasn't talking about this recording either. These aren't the best recordings of the ballades. This video is about the codas, not Cho playing the codas, and people are mentioning Zimmerman because they think Zimmerman has the best rendition of the ballades.
@@Populous3Tutorials I don't skip anything :). You can't turn this one on me lmao. For the 131 people that didn't care to listen to everything, I'm only extending the recommendation. I've played 3 of them. Btw, I only added the "imagine skipping" part to add some emotion to my comment, not to actually convey upset feelings that you skipped a few seconds of the piece. I hope you didn't get too defensive.
@@skrutten_ dude i didnt skip a single second of the piece, i only said where the CODAS start. there's a lot of piece before that (which i "skipped"), but the codas start at the times i stated. its not an opinion either, it's a fact
@@Populous3Tutorials My latest response says you "skipped a few seconds of the piece" which wasn't as detailed as it probably should've been. I mean that you provided a timestamp that succeeds a few seconds after parts of importance. Also, I never said anything about the truth of your original comment. My first comment wasn't about the correctness of the timestamps you added.
I think the coda of the 3rd ballade is the most perfect for many reasons. It's the most versatile and in my opinion, the most ingenius. I just love the entire ballade altogether. Maybe I'm a little biased though, since it's the only one I've learned completely.
3rd ballade in its integrity is just something else, it’s on an another level. Every single ballade is great and every one of them unleashes a unique colour, however the third one, in my opinion has got something more in terms of feelings. It has this constant theme evolving from the beginning, which explodes during the coda. I’ve been thinking about which one is the best ballades for days, listening on repeat to all 4 ballades, it has been really hard but I think I came to a conclusion: 1) Ballade 3 2) Ballade 4 3) Ballade 1 4) Ballade 2 I genuinely feel bad putting the first one and the second ballade in 3rd and 4th place, however if I had to give an order, this might be it.
@@madsvold5403 i would probably put it like this: 1>3>4>2 ballade 3 has an epic coda but so does ballade no 1, i just prefer the other parts of ballade no 1 over ballade no 3. ballade no 4 has a certain feeling to it which makes it unique, but still for enjoyment i would put it under ballade 1 and 3. and 2 is just kinda boring for me tbh.
If I had to choose 1 piece by Chopin, Ballade 3 will be the one (followed closely by Barcarolle, and Impromptus nos 2 and 3 and Polonaise-Fantaisie). Ballade 3 and Barcarolle have a spiritual authority, confirmation and reassurance that he will be saved at the end no matter the current devastating situation. The rest are too sentimental and a bit hand-wringing (I know I know 😅 I better stop
For me Ballade no 3 is highly underrated, so this is my list: 1. Ballade no 4, simply another level 2. Ballade no 3 3. Ballade no 1 4. Ballade no 2 Also I think that a list is not a right way to describe and value them cause, every Ballade is just amazing technically and musically, so we should appreciate every one without comparing them
Ballade No. 1. It's probably my favorite Chopin composition and one of my favorite pieces of classical music ever. And kindly ignore my profile picture and name, I assure you I say this freely without a hint of bias. :)
To be honest, I personally just recently discoverd chopin ballades thanks to his codas which I saw in another video about the hardest codas and I am so thankful for that video. I then went to check the piece (it was the first ballade), and at first and second listen I didn't like it alot but I still saved it in my classical music playlist. when it came out I didn't skip and kept listening to it and between the 3d to 4th listen I just got in love with the first ballade and realised how awsome it is, so now I checked out all of his ballads and I still like the most the first but the 4th one is also good. I think I just need to give the others a bit more listens to decide but they are just all GREAT and might be even the greatest piano series of pieces ever compsed, they just fit one each other like a puzzle when you hear them together. this is probably the first time I am this greatful to the youtube algorithm edit: Well, i listened to the others a bit more and i have to say now i can't decide which is the best. i mean i still think that its the first ballade but in "second place" its hard to me to decide because everytime i listen to one of the ballades i just love it. i think that at 1st place is chopins first ballade, even chopin himself was proud of her, but second place is every ballade, they are all equal because they are quite different from each other yet all are so great. more than that when speaking of the codas i think that they all serve the same purpouse and they all do such a great job at what they need to be. in conclusion i think that the first ballde is still the best, but they are all great and we just HAVE to thank Chopin for them
Hearing this reminds me how I have neglected my piano playing for far too long. I used to attempt these ballads, slower of course, fluffed loads, but got so much emotional enjoyment out of it. I don't do New Year's Resolutions, but perhaps I should. The Ballades and Scherzi are amongst my favourite Chopin pieces.
Really happy to get a comment that isn't viamently criticizing the winner of the 2015 International Chopin Competition. I get that people have opinions, but it feels like the majority of them approach expressing them in a tone that's more gatekeeping than honest.
Chopin's 1st ballade is to his 4th as Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto is to his 3rd. The 1st ballade has more of a "pop" kind of appeal but the 4th is much deeper in its scope. Same with Rach 2 vs 3. As far as codas, I have to go with 4th being most epic, followed by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in that order.
@@metodoinstinto I mean the coda in the end kind of sounds atonal in some parts, but it isn't obviously. (I don't really get what you are trying to prove here, just stating my opinion and view???)
It was a joke. I never meant anything by it. I do think it's kinda crazy to imagine Webern being inspired by it, but it was only a joke. Sorry if it offended anybody.
I'm certainly partial to No. 2 because that was part of my graduation recital from Temple University, Philadelphia PA in 1970! I totally agree with @bigl5343. Good memories... ☺
After many years of listening and playing these pieces I eventually concluded that the 2nd ballade coda is my absolute favorite with the coda of the 3rd ballade being a close second. To me, what makes it so strong is how it is able to tie the whole piece together, which the 3rd ballade coda does successfully as well. The codas of the 1st and 4th ballade, while intense and passionate in their own right, have a disjointed feeling. The 4th does this on purpose with a huge pause before it begins but the coda of the first ballade almost feels like a brand new piece in the hands of an amateur pianist. In other words, the codas of the 2nd and 3rd have a masterful manipulation of the thematic material presented earlier in the piece which 1 and 4 don't have as much.
These 4 ballades are such wonderful music. The genius of Chopin is outstanding. I can’t even say which ballade is my favorite: it proves how great the composer was… I just love the melodies and climaxes of the 1st, the contrasting themes and the intensity of the 2nd, the build-up and the transitions of the 3rd, the emotions and virtuosity of the 4th… Maybe they are ones of the greatest achievements of Chopin, of even the greatest masterpieces of musical literature, but they’re for sure my dream pieces, along with Rach 2. Hope to learn them in the following years !
That can be your personal ranking but Ballade no 4 borders on sounding transcendental and must be objectively the best of these pieces. It’s arguably the greatest work of solo piano ever composed.
@@paulinocontreras8426 of course music is subjective but there is an objective reality to it too. Ballade 4's coda is objectively most musical which makes sense since it's one of Chopin's later compositions.
4,1,2,3 imo. 1 & 4 may be overplayed but that doesn’t take away from their greatness (and the 2nd theme in no 1 is probably my favourite in all of Chopin’s music). It’s really hard to decide as they’re all so so good Edit: *not based on Codas. If it were ranked by Coda I’d go 2,4,3,1
its sad that my hands cant catch up to my memory. I know the notes to the whole Ballade 1, yet I cant seem to nail the speed required to play the coda. Ive put it aside for now and started on Ballade 3, and its going good so far - its less demanding and a little shorter.
Slowly build up your speed. Like, painfully slow speeds first, gradually moving up. If it takes you too much time (say more than 2 years) perhaps you are not ready for it technically.
@@samb23productions i think my problem is one of endurance rather than speed. i agree with you: i may just not be ready for it yet, hence the ballade 3
I taught myself the first ballade back in 2018. Years later, I can still remember bits of it here and there.. but still have the coda under my fingers because of how much I practised it. (Who knows, might post a video of it in the future?) My recommendation is that for whatever ballade you choose to learn (if you decide to start over with 3 or go for 1 once again), when you ramp up your practising again, start with the hardest portion (which is typically the coda.) Once you have that down, then I'd move on. This should lift a weight off of your shoulders knowing you've conquered the hard part- like solving the hardest problem on a math test first.
Of course this is a matter of personal opinion and I like the 1st ballade most as a whole, but the ending of the coda is just some scales. I think the coda of the 3rd ballade is by far musically most versatile and redeeming.
1st ballade coda is so intense and full of a feelimg that i cannot explain 2nd ballade coda the last part when it gets quite again gives me nostalgia of something 3rd ballade coda is something like firework, probably the happiest ending of all four ballades 4t ballade coda is a summary of everything, literally. It has everything inside it Well, those all four codas cannot be explained by words. I live for Chopin's four ballades. His ballades just came from heaven They are all great My personal favorite is 4
Thank you Mr. Cho! I am so pleased to hear one of the few recordings where these codas are not played insipidly as some form of finger exercise to show off technique. He approached this music with an imaginative ear and listened and focus intensively on making the instrument produce what he heard already in his heart. Bravo! Now can we have some uploads of the Chopin Winter Winds and other overplayed etudes that have been butchered by pianists who simply want to show off technical bravura and sacrifice the music?
They are all AMAZING codas! I did number 3 back in my University days. I didn’t find it TOO difficult, but it takes something to bring it off well. I love the first and the 4 th is really staggering
When I was a middle school student, no.1 was the best. High school and university student, no.4. And now, It depends on that day’s feeling. But, coda? No.2 is absolutely insane. From 2:42, Chopin’s tragic madness starts to burn. All of these coda make goose bumps always.
4, 3, 1, 2 4 is in it’s own class in terms of the coda. 1 is probably the best ballade overall but coda in isolation I like 4 best. The melody for 3 is so good it always tugs on my heart strings even if it isn’t the best compositionally. 2 is a bit too angsty for my tastes but it’s genius nonetheless.
The coda of no 2 is so strange but I love it - would like to hear it played somewhat slower, not too slow, because I think there’s incredible beauty there that isn’t perceived when it is played as fast as usual.
zimerman's version is what you're looking for I think, its technically not slow but he makes you feel like he's playing slowly because he makes every note so delicious and makes the music so full :p
Eddie Hutchence Sorry man, I agree with you but this video is dedicated to only ballades. If that’s the case, I suggest adding more codas from Chopin’s other works
I think each one fits the ballade of which they are a part equally well musically. But the coda of the fourth is certainly the strangest. One of the great masterpieces of the piano repertoire, and I think the greatest of the four Ballades overall.
you and me are so alike in this situation, but I still can’t put 4 and 3 in either first, 3 is so amazing, but after actually listening to the 4th recently it’s just too outstanding. The 3rd is way to underrated however
@@donnytello1544 after i first ranked them i started listening to the 4th one a lot and i truly think it’s one of the best pieces of music to ever exist. but the 3rd is *very* underrated, i agree
@@wooogie672 Fr tho. It’s moderated so we’ll, it feels more complete. The 3rd is completely unique form all the others however, and its dark warlike themes are just phenomenal
All of them are great but you are actually putting way more than the coda in here. For example, in Ballade 1 it starts with the fast G minor passage, in the 4th one with the forte, sudden F1 after the C major passage. The 2nd is maybe more diffuse, but if we stand for the core meaning of what a coda is I guess we could consider it starts with the passage that repeats itself an octave higher, just after the descending trinos of E, D, C, B on the left hand (eeee dddd cccc bbbb *A*)
ive heard and listened before and even learn by myself the ballade no 1 and no 3.. im still practice no 4. in my opinion A) Ballade No.1 0:15 B) Ballade No.4 7:58 C) Ballade No.3 4:28 D) Ballade No.2 2:05 if u didnt agree sorry bruvv... but i love the no.4 one its very beautifullll
Ballade 1 coda: If you want to impress the general audience. Ballade 2 coda: If you want to impress an aspiring piano student. Ballade 3 coda: If you want to impress an older audience. Ballade 4 coda: If you want to impress your piano professor. Just a joke. Don't come at me, okay.
I think the coda of the first ballade is very overrated. It doesn't speak to me in the same way that the others do, it doesnt give a clear romantic emotion according to me, rather just blasting notes in my ear without a the same emotional purpose as the others. The coda of the third ballade speaks to me in a different what than the others, even though I feel like the fourth ballade should be the best in theory. Final ranking is 3421.
all are good, but I'm biased in that I learned No. 4 in college, and is my favorite of the four (with No. 1 a close second)...Chopin is hard to dislike
I wish Chopin didn’t slow down the tempo at the end of the first ballade. My only complaint of an otherwise perfect piece! Btw, I strongly dislike Henle’s revision of Ballade 3 and other pieces by him.
Ballade means “story”. I almost think The Ballades of Chopin describe the birth and death of one. All parts symbolising a different part. I hope to play all of them one day, knowing what they symbolise for me and playing it with such emotion.
If I'm right it's the Jan Ekier-edited Ballades that the Chopin Foundation used to judge the International Chopin Competition in 2015. I'm not 100% sure but if it isn't the exact edition it's a pretty close copy. bit.ly/33Fimx2
the most difficult is the 4th but musically, it’s most complex the 3rd. in any way, the last 2 ballades are the most demanding, the richest and more interesting. full of difficulties...both technically and musically speaking
So I kind of forgot to link this before. Here's an old video of me playing (most of- I think the camera died...) the coda to the first ballade. It's not a recent video, and I'd also ask that you keep in mind that I'm self-taught. But I think it's not bad considering all of that.
ua-cam.com/video/eptdCHdLE6w/v-deo.html
It shows up as private when I try to view it :(
@@fTripleSharp Yea its private for me too
Sometimes we don't even realise how lucky our generation is for being able to listen to the most perfect pieces ever composed/played in history, whenever and wherever we want.
And instead, we complain about how the ad at the end of the video/music is annoying.
I mean they are but some of us even bring politic in the conversation.
@@segmentsAndCurves Hey just because we are privileged enough to have these things doesnt mean we can't complain about ads and that kind of stuff
@@imperialsandwich3695 Sorry! That just my opinion. I didn't tell you to do anything nor intended to do it.
Ikr. And back then, those composers been through a lot to make these pieces😥
@@segmentsAndCurves Don't be sorry, your opinion is important as well. I agree with your opinion that people tend to complain a lot about minor inconveniences these days, like what's the hurry? It's not like we're all dying tomorrow.
Video: Chopin's Ballades
Description: j u r a s s i c p a r k
@CRÖCÖDILE b
@@pizzacheeto true hahaha its so funny
Like it is a must to mention copyright I suppose
this happens with every single classical piece on UA-cam and I have no idea why
I still don't get it
The MAJESTY of the 1st
The MADNESS of the 2nd
The GLORY of the 3rd
The ENIGMA of the 4th.
Honestly perfect way to describe it, specifically the 2nd, it feels like he’s descending into a spiral of madness
@@gypsytronic Sometimes I forget it is in a MAJOR key. One of the darkest and ominous solo piano pieces in a major key for sure.
@@goktugblack Well, the coda is not.
@@AbCd-kq3ky The whole piece is in F Major. But yes coda is pure jittering insanity.
Can we agree that they're all great?
the title has literally explained to you what the meaning of the video is
No
No they're all trash.
@@DanielFahimi Thanks Captain Obvious!!!
@@chopinisacomposerforonerig2970 You're welcome, handsome!
Huh... A ballade of codas...
Scherzo :)
My favorite kind of ballade 🤘
Four codas do a ballade not make.
@@chopin65 its more in reference to how the video is very much the length of a good romantic ballade
@@chopin65
Well, I’m gonna compose a ballade with 4 codas for the 4 themes.
Why the people don't like a lot the number 3. For me it's one of the best
same 2 and 3 are my favorites
Exactly, 1 and 4 are both good but a little overrated.
yes!
@@jacobansel4290 i dont like nr 2 but now that i only reheard the coda, the coda of 2 is pretty nice
@@vipinbhat6971 oh come on, 4 is by far the best of the set. Its hardly even an opinion
Honestly the 4th ballade is something special. The other three are great, but the 4th is just on another level. It isn't everyday that you hear a 9:8 polyrhythm in a piece of music from the common-practice period.
I agree, however much I hate to play the ‘ranking the best...’ game. No 4 seems from another world.
Where is the 9:8 part?
@@tompa3537 it's at around 9:20 ua-cam.com/video/UMSwmDK-sTM/v-deo.html
@@alexshih3747 It's not saying much. Being the best out of a collection of the most wretched excuses of 'music' sure isn't an accomplishment!
Friendly reminder to not invalidate other’s opinions and to just use your time to listen to the pieces you enjoy.
I love all of them, but the 3rd has always spoken to me in a way that the other's don't.
Agreed. It is the most romantic of the ballades.
I feel the same, romantic and something else the other ones doesn’t have. Don’t get me wrong, i love the other 3 ballades, but for me 3 it’s more musical and have a deeper meaning
@@frankeylorenzo I guess its the major tonality, makes it more joyful. Its also the ballade that plays with themes best, recapitulations are so integrative with the piece progress
@@Thiago-px9ev Thats true, the recapitulation feels better
@@frankeylorenzo Its like you never miss a theme from appearing again
0:00 - Ballade No 1
1:44 - Ballade No 2
4:04 - Ballade No 3
6:18 - Ballade No 4
The legend no one asked for, but everyone needed.
Heroes don’t always wear capes
2nd coda is the most exciting
wow........
Masacra in mexico 😟
It's trash
@@DanielFahimi yes
2 and 4 favourite codas and ballades
#3 is very underrated.
its my fav for sure
idk, i think its the weakest
still great tho
Ehhhh not quite enough power imo, less emotional
Very underrated, my fav ballade of all
I personally like no. 2's coda the best. Just intense, fiery and I love the "melody" there. It almost sounds scary and devilish when Zimmerman plays those rising-chord-arpeggio things.
Probably ballad no. 1 is a close second for me, I feel it gives it a perfect and cohesive ending. Ballad 1 itself is a perfect piece of music.
That being said, I love Ballad 4's and 3's codas, in fact, I love how 4 goes into borderline atonality. And no.3's constant perfect cadences at its climax make me lose my mind and rewind to that part on repeat.
[EDIT]: Okay, so y'all are considering No.4's coda to start earlier than I considered it. In that case, I freaking love No. 4's surprise cadence in C major (dominant) right before the "atonal" part. Maybe it's overused, doesn't matter to me either way.
I also love 2 coda
me too!!!
man! I agree so so much!!
Try listening to Cortot's recording of Ballade 2 (1933 recording), I think you'll enjoy it.
@@marcus4403 I'm pretty sure the other guy wasn't talking about this recording either. These aren't the best recordings of the ballades. This video is about the codas, not Cho playing the codas, and people are mentioning Zimmerman because they think Zimmerman has the best rendition of the ballades.
codas start:
1- 0:14
2- 2:45
3- 5:31
4- 7:58
Imagine skipping 2:05 for the second ballade and 4:27 for the third.
@@skrutten_ never skip anything, in fact listen to the whole thing :D
i just posted the actual timestamps for each ballade coda
@@Populous3Tutorials I don't skip anything :). You can't turn this one on me lmao. For the 131 people that didn't care to listen to everything, I'm only extending the recommendation. I've played 3 of them.
Btw, I only added the "imagine skipping" part to add some emotion to my comment, not to actually convey upset feelings that you skipped a few seconds of the piece. I hope you didn't get too defensive.
@@skrutten_ dude i didnt skip a single second of the piece, i only said where the CODAS start. there's a lot of piece before that (which i "skipped"), but the codas start at the times i stated. its not an opinion either, it's a fact
@@Populous3Tutorials My latest response says you "skipped a few seconds of the piece" which wasn't as detailed as it probably should've been. I mean that you provided a timestamp that succeeds a few seconds after parts of importance.
Also, I never said anything about the truth of your original comment. My first comment wasn't about the correctness of the timestamps you added.
Which coda is musically best?
Me: Yes
True.
Correct!
Do you guys want me to post me playing the coda of the first ballade?
Yes plz
Absolutely
No.
Of course we do!!!
Absolutely
Not
yes.
I think the coda of the 3rd ballade is the most perfect for many reasons. It's the most versatile and in my opinion, the most ingenius. I just love the entire ballade altogether. Maybe I'm a little biased though, since it's the only one I've learned completely.
That’s how I was too with the 1st ballade so I had to learn them all😂
So do I.
When I practised the Third Ballade, this coda reminded the wavies on the beach. I had to divide into several parts in order to memorize.
3rd ballade in its integrity is just something else, it’s on an another level. Every single ballade is great and every one of them unleashes a unique colour, however the third one, in my opinion has got something more in terms of feelings. It has this constant theme evolving from the beginning, which explodes during the coda. I’ve been thinking about which one is the best ballades for days, listening on repeat to all 4 ballades, it has been really hard but I think I came to a conclusion:
1) Ballade 3
2) Ballade 4
3) Ballade 1
4) Ballade 2
I genuinely feel bad putting the first one and the second ballade in 3rd and 4th place, however if I had to give an order, this might be it.
Same, but I'd switch ballade 1 and 4
Fully agree
@@madsvold5403 i would probably put it like this:
1>3>4>2
ballade 3 has an epic coda but so does ballade no 1, i just prefer the other parts of ballade no 1 over ballade no 3. ballade no 4 has a certain feeling to it which makes it unique, but still for enjoyment i would put it under ballade 1 and 3.
and 2 is just kinda boring for me tbh.
you know theyre incredible pieces when you feel bad ranking them :)
If I had to choose 1 piece by Chopin, Ballade 3 will be the one (followed closely by Barcarolle, and Impromptus nos 2 and 3 and Polonaise-Fantaisie). Ballade 3 and Barcarolle have a spiritual authority, confirmation and reassurance that he will be saved at the end no matter the current devastating situation. The rest are too sentimental and a bit hand-wringing (I know I know 😅 I better stop
For me Ballade no 3 is highly underrated, so this is my list:
1. Ballade no 4, simply another level
2. Ballade no 3
3. Ballade no 1
4. Ballade no 2
Also I think that a list is not a right way to describe and value them cause, every Ballade is just amazing technically and musically, so we should appreciate every one without comparing them
Ballade No. 1. It's probably my favorite Chopin composition and one of my favorite pieces of classical music ever. And kindly ignore my profile picture and name, I assure you I say this freely without a hint of bias. :)
Man, when will you start touring again!?
Only Chopin could make highly virtuosic and sometimes brutal music crystal clear and enjoyable.
To be honest, I personally just recently discoverd chopin ballades thanks to his codas which I saw in another video about the hardest codas and I am so thankful for that video. I then went to check the piece (it was the first ballade), and at first and second listen I didn't like it alot but I still saved it in my classical music playlist. when it came out I didn't skip and kept listening to it and between the 3d to 4th listen I just got in love with the first ballade and realised how awsome it is, so now I checked out all of his ballads and I still like the most the first but the 4th one is also good. I think I just need to give the others a bit more listens to decide but they are just all GREAT and might be even the greatest piano series of pieces ever compsed, they just fit one each other like a puzzle when you hear them together. this is probably the first time I am this greatful to the youtube algorithm
edit: Well, i listened to the others a bit more and i have to say now i can't decide which is the best. i mean i still think that its the first ballade but in "second place" its hard to me to decide because everytime i listen to one of the ballades i just love it. i think that at 1st place is chopins first ballade, even chopin himself was proud of her, but second place is every ballade, they are all equal because they are quite different from each other yet all are so great.
more than that when speaking of the codas i think that they all serve the same purpouse and they all do such a great job at what they need to be. in conclusion i think that the first ballde is still the best, but they are all great and we just HAVE to thank Chopin for them
Hearing this reminds me how I have neglected my piano playing for far too long. I used to attempt these ballads, slower of course, fluffed loads, but got so much emotional enjoyment out of it. I don't do New Year's Resolutions, but perhaps I should. The Ballades and Scherzi are amongst my favourite Chopin pieces.
Cho's recordings of Chopin's 4 Ballades is one of the best ever been, alongside Zimmerman and Rubinsteins' !
Really happy to get a comment that isn't viamently criticizing the winner of the 2015 International Chopin Competition. I get that people have opinions, but it feels like the majority of them approach expressing them in a tone that's more gatekeeping than honest.
@@vansbyikea4946 You should make timestamps in the video for each ballade
@@vansbyikea4946 viamently is actually spelt vehemently so you know, please don’t take offence.
Rubenstein’s 2nd Ballade coda is the best I’ve heard; sounds like someone writhing in agony... lol
@@vansbyikea4946 lol no cho is terrible
Chopin's 1st ballade is to his 4th as Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto is to his 3rd. The 1st ballade has more of a "pop" kind of appeal but the 4th is much deeper in its scope. Same with Rach 2 vs 3.
As far as codas, I have to go with 4th being most epic, followed by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in that order.
The 4th one is so dense and complex it almost sounds atonal, perhaps the expressionists and 2nd Viennese School was somewhat inspired by it
Your comment shows that you username is a lie
@@metodoinstinto I mean the coda in the end kind of sounds atonal in some parts, but it isn't obviously. (I don't really get what you are trying to prove here, just stating my opinion and view???)
@@metodoinstinto woah, kinda toxic
@@metodoinstinto I don’t understand the point of harassment? He has an opinion, like everyone else. You shouldn’t hate on it.
It was a joke. I never meant anything by it. I do think it's kinda crazy to imagine Webern being inspired by it, but it was only a joke. Sorry if it offended anybody.
It’s always nice hearing codas... makes u wonder why u continue to try and learn the piece in the first place-
Cho’s interpretations are pnenomenal. The coda of the fourth Ballade is the most impressive, but I prefer the first Ballade any day.
Indeed
When Chopin gone crazy when he bursts out every stress in his whole life in a coda
The first one has something more that touch me that I can't even understand. Bring tears to my eyes so easily.
But yeah they are all just amazing.
I'm certainly partial to No. 2 because that was part of my graduation recital from Temple University, Philadelphia PA in 1970! I totally agree with @bigl5343. Good memories... ☺
After many years of listening and playing these pieces I eventually concluded that the 2nd ballade coda is my absolute favorite with the coda of the 3rd ballade being a close second. To me, what makes it so strong is how it is able to tie the whole piece together, which the 3rd ballade coda does successfully as well. The codas of the 1st and 4th ballade, while intense and passionate in their own right, have a disjointed feeling. The 4th does this on purpose with a huge pause before it begins but the coda of the first ballade almost feels like a brand new piece in the hands of an amateur pianist. In other words, the codas of the 2nd and 3rd have a masterful manipulation of the thematic material presented earlier in the piece which 1 and 4 don't have as much.
bro stfu 4 and 1 are the best no debate
I’m getting to an extent that I can just look at the comments with timecode and immediately know what parts are they talking about
@@vagicleanaisle5291 as it should be.
When I listen the third ballade for the first time I cried
For me its the best of all
51 k views, with less than 100 subs? You are way too underrated
Thank you, that's very kind of you!
I think how musically pleasing they are, it's the 3rd.
I couldn't agree more
CHOPIN NAJPIEKNIEJSZA SPUŚCIZNA DLA LUDZKOŚCI. DZIĘKUJĘ.
I like the agonizing despair of Ballade No. 1's Coda, the magicality of Ballade No. 4's Coda, and the intensity of Ballade No 2's Coda.
and 3? well 3 has a nice… personality
These 4 ballades are such wonderful music. The genius of Chopin is outstanding. I can’t even say which ballade is my favorite: it proves how great the composer was… I just love the melodies and climaxes of the 1st, the contrasting themes and the intensity of the 2nd, the build-up and the transitions of the 3rd, the emotions and virtuosity of the 4th… Maybe they are ones of the greatest achievements of Chopin, of even the greatest masterpieces of musical literature, but they’re for sure my dream pieces, along with Rach 2. Hope to learn them in the following years !
I always thought the the 2nd coda was the most amazing one. Number 3 is second, 1 is third, and number 4 is 4th. that's my personal ranking.
That can be your personal ranking but Ballade no 4 borders on sounding transcendental and must be objectively the best of these pieces. It’s arguably the greatest work of solo piano ever composed.
@@jazzymcfly4275 The entire piece as a whole, yes, id be inclined to agree with you, but we are just ranking codas here.
@@paulinocontreras8426 of course music is subjective but there is an objective reality to it too. Ballade 4's coda is objectively most musical which makes sense since it's one of Chopin's later compositions.
@@em8714 True, musically and technically, the 4th ballade is the best, some people personally prefer the intensity of the 2nd ballade coda
4,1,2,3 imo. 1 & 4 may be overplayed but that doesn’t take away from their greatness (and the 2nd theme in no 1 is probably my favourite in all of Chopin’s music). It’s really hard to decide as they’re all so so good
Edit: *not based on Codas. If it were ranked by Coda I’d go 2,4,3,1
Definitely ballade no.1 it literally goes through ur soul
The 4th is probably not only the musically best, it’s also by far the hardest one to play.
Yes
Ok
I prefer the coda of the ballade no. 3, for me it sounds more musical than the others, and the melody it’s very beautiful
its sad that my hands cant catch up to my memory. I know the notes to the whole Ballade 1, yet I cant seem to nail the speed required to play the coda. Ive put it aside for now and started on Ballade 3, and its going good so far - its less demanding and a little shorter.
Slowly build up your speed. Like, painfully slow speeds first, gradually moving up. If it takes you too much time (say more than 2 years) perhaps you are not ready for it technically.
@@samb23productions i think my problem is one of endurance rather than speed. i agree with you: i may just not be ready for it yet, hence the ballade 3
I taught myself the first ballade back in 2018. Years later, I can still remember bits of it here and there.. but still have the coda under my fingers because of how much I practised it. (Who knows, might post a video of it in the future?) My recommendation is that for whatever ballade you choose to learn (if you decide to start over with 3 or go for 1 once again), when you ramp up your practising again, start with the hardest portion (which is typically the coda.) Once you have that down, then I'd move on. This should lift a weight off of your shoulders knowing you've conquered the hard part- like solving the hardest problem on a math test first.
@@vansbyikea4946 thats really interesting! ill try that out in ballade 3. i have gone through the first 4 pages already!
@@carluy7351 well done! If you ever are able, be sure to send me a video of you playing it.. would love to see it. :)
Ballad no. 3 is the best and in my opinion also has the best coda. It's seriously underrated.
This was not always the case. In the 1930s, the Third Ballad was most often played, and even earned the nickname "Flirt with a daemon."
For me No.1 has the most complete, most musically perfect Coda. Then 4, 3 & 2.
Of course this is a matter of personal opinion and I like the 1st ballade most as a whole, but the ending of the coda is just some scales. I think the coda of the 3rd ballade is by far musically most versatile and redeeming.
The 1st Ballade's coda is dragged out a lot longer than the others, so I disagree. In my opinion the 4th has the most complete ending.
4,2,3,1
1st coda used to be my favourite but it isnt as enjoyable anymore after hearing it so many times when practicing the piece
Sameeeee, but its still enjoyable when u imagine in certain situations.
Number 2 is so underrated. One of my favourites
They're all fantastic of course but seriously the 4th slaps like nothing else
1st ballade coda is so intense and full of a feelimg that i cannot explain
2nd ballade coda the last part when it gets quite again gives me nostalgia of something
3rd ballade coda is something like firework, probably the happiest ending of all four ballades
4t ballade coda is a summary of everything, literally. It has everything inside it
Well, those all four codas cannot be explained by words. I live for Chopin's four ballades. His ballades just came from heaven
They are all great
My personal favorite is 4
no. 4 is my favorite but that doesn't make any of the others any less awe inspiring
Thank you Mr. Cho! I am so pleased to hear one of the few recordings where these codas are not played insipidly as some form of finger exercise to show off technique. He approached this music with an imaginative ear and listened and focus intensively on making the instrument produce what he heard already in his heart. Bravo! Now can we have some uploads of the Chopin Winter Winds and other overplayed etudes that have been butchered by pianists who simply want to show off technical bravura and sacrifice the music?
I'll see what I can do!
This is a great idea to put them side by side. To be honest what I get from it is how astonishingly good all four ballades are.
"Ballade 1 its very dramatically"
-Daniel Barenboim
I agree
They are all AMAZING codas! I did number 3 back in my University days. I didn’t find it TOO difficult, but it takes something to bring it off well.
I love the first and the 4 th is really staggering
They're all inspired, but my favorite is the coda from the Ballad No.1 because of its ever increasing intensity.
I love all the other ballades, but the first is iconic.
When I was a middle school student, no.1 was the best. High school and university student, no.4. And now, It depends on that day’s feeling. But, coda? No.2 is absolutely insane. From 2:42, Chopin’s tragic madness starts to burn. All of these coda make goose bumps always.
3rd ballade sounds pleasing then 4th is the next.
4, 3, 1, 2
4 is in it’s own class in terms of the coda. 1 is probably the best ballade overall but coda in isolation I like 4 best. The melody for 3 is so good it always tugs on my heart strings even if it isn’t the best compositionally. 2 is a bit too angsty for my tastes but it’s genius nonetheless.
My personal best is ballade no.2 maybe because i've played it, but it was really enjoyable to play and it sounded beautiful
The coda of no 2 is so strange but I love it - would like to hear it played somewhat slower, not too slow, because I think there’s incredible beauty there that isn’t perceived when it is played as fast as usual.
zimerman's version is what you're looking for I think, its technically not slow but he makes you feel like he's playing slowly because he makes every note so delicious and makes the music so full :p
It's not strange
They are all great by their way to me. Chopin's music is just.. so beautiful
musically speaking, #3 /works/ the best, but #2 is the most fun to play I think lol
If you haven’t played all of it, don’t say it. They are all beautiful and musically at its best for its own reason.
my favorite video now on! thanks for sharing
The Scherzo Op. 39 coda needs to be in here too
Eddie Hutchence Chopin Ballades: which coda is musically best?
Why would you put a Scherzo’s coda in this video?
@@duolingoowl7043 i extended the question into all Chopin's codas. And what does it matter, the Scherzos are equally as good as the Ballades.
Eddie Hutchence Sorry man, I agree with you but this video is dedicated to only ballades. If that’s the case, I suggest adding more codas from Chopin’s other works
I second your request, I mean, I third it!
Although my favorite is the coda from Ballade no 1, the coda in ballade no3 and no4 are so gorgeous.
See I’ve played through all of these and I gotta say my favorite is the F major (2nd one) the hardest is definitely the 4th one.
I think each one fits the ballade of which they are a part equally well musically. But the coda of the fourth is certainly the strangest. One of the great masterpieces of the piano repertoire, and I think the greatest of the four Ballades overall.
honestly I’d have to rate it 3, 4, 1, 2. the 3rd ballade is just so underrated and I love the ending so much
edit: i change my mind it’s 4,3,1,2
you and me are so alike in this situation, but I still can’t put 4 and 3 in either first, 3 is so amazing, but after actually listening to the 4th recently it’s just too outstanding. The 3rd is way to underrated however
@@donnytello1544 after i first ranked them i started listening to the 4th one a lot and i truly think it’s one of the best pieces of music to ever exist. but the 3rd is *very* underrated, i agree
ayy twinning
@@wooogie672 Fr tho. It’s moderated so we’ll, it feels more complete. The 3rd is completely unique form all the others however, and its dark warlike themes are just phenomenal
I have the exact same opinion, it's either 3, 4, 1, 2 or 4, 3, 1, 2 for me. The 3rd and 4th ballades are both so amazing but in different ways.
1- ballade no.4
2- ballade no.1
3- ballade no.3
4- ballade no.2
Love the sound of that piano. Bravo.
듣자마자 조성진의 곡이라는것을 알아버렸다..
1st ballade is my favorite but i have to give credit to the 2nd and 3rd ones they sound amazing the 4th one is awesome as well
For me 3 4 1 2. #3 is always so underrated.. so unfortunate 😭
I can’t get enough of the 3rd’s coda! Reminds me of his Barcarolle!
All of them are great but you are actually putting way more than the coda in here. For example, in Ballade 1 it starts with the fast G minor passage, in the 4th one with the forte, sudden F1 after the C major passage. The 2nd is maybe more diffuse, but if we stand for the core meaning of what a coda is I guess we could consider it starts with the passage that repeats itself an octave higher, just after the descending trinos of E, D, C, B on the left hand (eeee dddd cccc bbbb *A*)
ive heard and listened before and even learn by myself the ballade no 1 and no 3.. im still practice no 4. in my opinion
A) Ballade No.1 0:15
B) Ballade No.4 7:58
C) Ballade No.3 4:28
D) Ballade No.2 2:05
if u didnt agree sorry bruvv... but i love the no.4 one its very beautifullll
Seems that music is all about preference heh. Who would've thought
2番のバラードがどちらかというとリスト的な展開。荒れ狂う連続の不協和音と音形もオクターブ超えがドラマティック。
7:57
Sounds like devil crying...
sounds like the devil laughing !
Interesting description
Ung ung ung ung
You’ve heard devil cried before?
GREAT pianist....
Of course all of them are awesome but I think its between 2 and 4
So 3
@@pianoconcertono2 lmfao
@@pianoconcertono2 😂😂😂😂😂
I feel as though 3's Coda edges out just a little bit, it is truly beautiful, especially the fist part.
Ballade 1 coda: If you want to impress the general audience.
Ballade 2 coda: If you want to impress an aspiring piano student.
Ballade 3 coda: If you want to impress an older audience.
Ballade 4 coda: If you want to impress your piano professor.
Just a joke. Don't come at me, okay.
I think the coda of the first ballade is very overrated. It doesn't speak to me in the same way that the others do, it doesnt give a clear romantic emotion according to me, rather just blasting notes in my ear without a the same emotional purpose as the others. The coda of the third ballade speaks to me in a different what than the others, even though I feel like the fourth ballade should be the best in theory. Final ranking is 3421.
Imagine play abt 10 minuts of pure music and Chopin just drop this: 7:58
all are good, but I'm biased in that I learned No. 4 in college, and is my favorite of the four (with No. 1 a close second)...Chopin is hard to dislike
4:05
Love all because each one have it's own beauty!
They all Wonderfull. I can't decide, every one of them has something special ...
I wish Chopin didn’t slow down the tempo at the end of the first ballade. My only complaint of an otherwise perfect piece! Btw, I strongly dislike Henle’s revision of Ballade 3 and other pieces by him.
Yeah then go for schirmir
@@zacksima8333 Henle’s new revisions have lots of changes to Ballade 3 and Barcarolle. I’m still using the 1976 edition.
Ballade means “story”.
I almost think The Ballades of Chopin describe the birth and death of one. All parts symbolising a different part. I hope to play all of them one day, knowing what they symbolise for me and playing it with such emotion.
What edition of the ballade 4? Nice fingerings and clear piece. I wonder which edition it is..
If I'm right it's the Jan Ekier-edited Ballades that the Chopin Foundation used to judge the International Chopin Competition in 2015. I'm not 100% sure but if it isn't the exact edition it's a pretty close copy. bit.ly/33Fimx2
@거울 Edition. Not pianist
First and fourth always got me the most excited.
4, 3, 2, 1
Go!
4th ballade. NO EXPLANATIONS NOR QUESTIONS.
the most difficult is the 4th but musically, it’s most complex the 3rd. in any way, the last 2 ballades are the most demanding, the richest and more interesting. full of difficulties...both technically and musically speaking
6:51 is my favorite part👍🏻