HomeJohannes BrahmsSong Meaning of "6 Piano Pieces, Op.118: 3. Ballade in G Minor"...

Song Meaning of “6 Piano Pieces, Op.118: 3. Ballade in G Minor” by Johannes Brahms

Song Details

  • Album Release Date: 1994-01-01
  • Album Name: Brahms: The Late Piano Music (2 CDs)

Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “6 Piano Pieces, Op.118: 3. Ballade in G Minor” by Johannes Brahms

The 3rd Ballade in ‘6 Piano Pieces, Op.118’ by Johannes Brahms paints a melancholic picture of an eternal struggle between darkness and light. The piece begins with a deep rumble of minor chords that seem to echo of immense sadness, slowly giving way to gentle and fragile moments of contrast. The listener can hear a strong sense of longing conveyed through the continuously shifting dynamics, as the delicate passages are quickly swept away by dramatic fortes. At times, a sense of resolution is almost within reach, however, these moments remain elusive and are soon replaced by increasingly dark and ponderous passages. The overall sensation is one of being suspended in an ongoing battle between despair and hope; a journey towards transcendence and liberation that ultimately remains unresolved.

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