Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky ： 30 Children’s Pieces No.16 Ballade Op.27-16

“Ballade,” from Kabalevsky’s 30 Children’s Pieces, is a work for young pianists that nevertheless possesses a calm, narrative manner and richly shaded expression. The music unfolds around its melody, with contrasts that suggest changing scenes as stillness alternates with tension. Highlights include the singing quality of the main melody and the changes of atmosphere created by the accompaniment. In performance, it is important first to preserve the flow of the beat while bringing the melody clearly to the fore, then to shape the gradations of dynamics with care. Use the pedal sparingly so that the sound does not become blurred, and listen to the resonance of the notes and the rests; this will help create an expressive quality that suggests a story.