ballade

noun

bal·lade | \ bə-ˈläd

How to pronounce ballade (audio)

, ba- \

Definition of ballade

1 : a fixed verse form consisting usually of three stanzas with recurrent rhymes, an envoi, and an identical refrain for each part

2 : a musical composition usually for piano suggesting the epic ballad

Examples of ballade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Like that Chopin ballade, a good routine has light and shade, fast sections and longueurs. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, "The Challenge of Comedy Without an Audience," 8 Apr. 2020 Video: Manjula Varghese For the seniors, Christopher knocked out all four Chopin ballades. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "It’s Chopin, not ‘Chopsticks,’ for 12-year-old piano prodigy," 9 June 2019 And not just the easy stuff, but the whirling ballades and the high-octane waltzes and scherzos that usually separate the young pianists from the veterans but — in the case of a prodigy like Christopher — don’t. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "It’s Chopin, not ‘Chopsticks,’ for 12-year-old piano prodigy," 9 June 2019 The four ballades are full of beautiful music, a point emphasized in Pierdomenico’s lyrical interpretations. — Olin Chism, star-telegram.com, "Updated review: Cliburn semifinal round ends with lyrical grace, passion," 5 June 2017 The second of two great septuagenarian pianists passing through New York this week brings with him an all-Chopin program, featuring two sets of nocturnes, a couple of ballades, a scherzo, a berceuse and the third of the composer’s sonatas. — David Allen, New York Times, "Classical Music in NYC This Week," 18 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ballade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Ballade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballade. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.

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