Enescu Balada for Violin and Piano

Enescu: Ballade Op. 4 — New Edition (Violin and Piano)

Enescu wrote his Ballade Op. 4 in Paris in 1895, when he was fourteen. The piece carries the melodic directness and emotional openness of early work written instinctively: a lyrical violin melody over a bass line that carries something of the Baroque continuo tradition, and a warmth and intimacy that run throughout all three parts. This is a newly engraved edition of the original violin and piano score, with clean, well-spaced parts that are straightforward to read and annotate.

At four minutes, it's a concentrated piece, and one that rewards a player who can sustain a singing tone and a long musical line without the technical demands of the later Romantic concerto repertoire crowding the picture.

Check the score and parts preview images above, then watch the complete score video below. They'll give you a clear picture of the engraving quality and overall difficulty before you buy.

Key features

• Instrumentation: Solo Violin and Piano
• Difficulty: Diploma / Professional
• Duration: approximately 4 minutes
• Format: PDF download, full score and separate violin part

This suits diploma recitals and conservatoire programmes where something in the Romantic French tradition is wanted at a more intimate scale than a full concerto. The piece is less familiar than Enescu's Romanian Rhapsodies, which gives it an advantage in programmes where a less predictable choice is an asset. It also pairs naturally with the string orchestra version for players who perform with both piano and ensemble.