CHOPIN Ballade No.1 in G minor Op.23 

I don't know where to start. I am so proud of you for finishing this piece. When I asked you if you could play my favourite Ballade you were a little skeptical, because it is a really hard piece! I knew this piece could have been a challenge for you, I am sure it was challenging and nevertheless, you made it! Congrats! The performance was great. Hard work pay off ;)

Thats amazing, man!! Even used.multiple cameras, getting professional!

And play it you did!!! Wow, Joel! This is amazing and so very beautiful! You should be on stage in a concert hall playing on a 10 foot grand piano!

I really like the coda on this! It feels like everyone else tries to fukin speed run it but this was amazing!

Firstly: masterful performance, maestro! Second: this genius, elegant piece of music can only be rivaled by Chopin's own Fantasia Op. 49

8:00 to 8:15 my favourite part

Very well done. And a happy 209th Birthday to Chopin

This is a perfect birthday present for Chopin. I wish I could do that, but I don't know why but I feel.....proud of ya. ;)

Hello my dear friend Joel 🌺🌺🌺 This is very beautiful music of Chopin THOUGH it is very hard to play , YET , you got it very well and Excellent 🌹🌹🙏🙏🙏🌹🌹 . Outstanding performance my dear Joel and wish a pleasant week and more success 🌺🌺⚘🌺🌺

Well played, Joel! The sheer amount of emotions throughout this piece is phenomenal, it‘s what makes it one of my absolute favorite pieces of all time. I know, performing it and finding good interpretations for all the different parts is very hard. If you don’t mind I’d leave you some suggestions for improvements: - Use a bit less pedal throughout the piece. There are points where the sustain pedal can destroy the clarity and voicing, especially in the quick waltz section (5:40). Either only hold the bass notes until you reach the LH chords or don‘t use the pedal at all and play the bass notes staccato. Also, at 8:48, depress the pedal after the chromatic run upwards and press it again after having played the LH chord. It sounds kinda messy with all the notes from the run in the measure before. - At 4:38, instead of using the fourth finger for both the g#‘s, use the fourth for the first and the fifth for the second, that will help you to get those notes really crisp and accenturated (same goes for LH, use 2-1 instead of 1-1). This also applies to the second climax later in the piece. - At 8:57, maybe leave a short break after hitting the last notes of the run, and accent these ones instead of the lower gm chord. Same goes for the run afterwards, make that thing loud and excentric and contrast it by playing the following gm chord really softly and misteriously. I‘d really love to hear another performance of this ballade in the future, maybe in a year or so? This really is a piece that takes long to digest. I also want to record it soon but I’m never really satisfied with what I can do with it lol. Also, do you plan to play other Chopin ballades as well?

Amazing performance Joel 💯💯 I must say this may be the best recording of this ballade may be yours ! Good job 👏 Bravo

Обалдеть! 😇🙈 Шикарное исполнение! Слов не подобрать! 😍🥰 Интересно звучит на "Petrof". Движение руки невероятное. Спасибо за исполнение! 🔥

Wooww adorable !! 🙏🙏👍😍

THE ULTIMATE. JOEL YOU’VE DONE IT!! love that it’s on an upright too! The E flat major second theme was So on point. 😭 Hats off to you! Feel so lucky to be able to watch this again and again!

A Chopin Channel indeed...your delicate touch is truly amazing...you have great balance and control...splendid dynamics...your flowing notes are sublime...a pleasure to have fpund your channel Maestro...subscribed and will be back for more absolutely outstanding playing...

You are very talent, this piece is very difficult to face with...amazing work! it's sounds professional.

Thanks for sharing this. Omg i am so touched. I really like the way you play Chopin's pieces especially this one.❤️❤️❤️

A*W*E*S*O*M*E! Joel Ross! Put me down for a dozen of your first album release. Just beautifully played, with feeling. And obviously you have an excellent memory as you didn't reference a music sheet even once. Bravo I say! Thank you for sharing with us.

Omg, I kinda had a feeling you'd post this soon!! I was so happy when I saw this on my subscriptions newsfeed, I took my earphones right away and listened. Anyway, amazing interpretation, I was sure you'd pull this off wonderfully

omgggggggggggggg Joel!!!!! This is SO great and you've put so much effort into one of the most special pieces in the repertoire - I was so excited to see this!!!!! Where to begin - I love how you bring out the nostalgia and longing in the first theme (so well paced and lovely rubato!!!), and it contrasts so well with the agitated sections later on... but I was particularly impressed with the buildup to the wonderful A major recap :)... and your virtuosity in the second half is really impressive, but never overbearing! Well done on the coda - many of my friends who play this piece have told me just how difficult it is, but u coped with the challenges admirably well and the runs were so crisp and cleanly played!!!! I am sure that not only learning but also playing this piece would have been a real journey for u, and I can only imagine how much practice and long hours must have gone into this... so huge congratulations, and look forward to seeing more of these major Chopin works being uploaded soon!!!!

Wow. Just wow. Probably the finest piece of music ever composed and you did it justice! You're an inspiration!

superbly done my friend:-)))) great Birthday tribute to Choplin's 50th!!!

Now I’m learning this piece along Polonaise Op. 53 and Ballade Op. 47 (My Favourite Ballade) :), I’m currently practicing measures 36-69.

What a beautiful ballade also I love the unic sound of your piano

It is such an amazing performance ! I guess you spent a lot of time on it to obtain this result. I am really impressed, you play with brilliance, speed, but also clarity. One of the most beautiful and technically demanding pieces ever written.

Oh wow, didn't expect this! That was amazing!!! You rock! Happy birthday Chopin!!

녹음이 문제였는지는 모르겠으나 강약조절이 명확하게 나타나지 않는 점을 제외하고는 정말 좋네요. 잘 들었습니다. Keep up toe good work man. I do, too, am a huge fan of Chopin.

You are amazing my friend cant wait until you make it Big

Man you really deserve a follow, this is so great, my favorite piece !

Very good! Glad I found your channel! It's such a great piece and really well played! Subscribed!

Love the old piano sound lol, nice play :D

Chopin's music has healing powers... I'm sure of it

really nice performance!! I have been self-learning this composition for about 3 years, and it is glad to see others play this with a different interpretation. Also, your gestures were so well; I learnt a lot from them.

I have a long, very long piano piece list at RU-vid, Guess what... Your Ballade G minor performance is one of my favorite, specially the end. I wanted you to know that i listen your performance too often. :)

Very nice! Didn't expect such a performance honestly!

DUDE I JUST PICKED UP THIS PIECE TWO WEEKA AGO AND YOU POSTED THIS TWO WEEKS AGO OMG THE PSYCHIC

This is really Beutifull man gives me confidence while I learn this song. Thank you man

Was this perfect no, flashes of brilliance ..yes. If you played this insane piece just off raw talent alone then I applaud you. Any teacher would love to have you I'm thinking!

This is so amazing! I just started to learn this piece a few weeks ago, so this popped up on my feed at the right time :) amazing work, now I have another pianist’s performance to use as reference for how I can play the piece once I start polishing it up. Sooo awesome! ✨🌼

Fantastic playing. Your performance is ideal.

Stunning performance!! I hope to one day also learn this piece its one of my favorite of chopins work

Wow you got a good mic! Amazing interpretation and playing! you deserve more subs! Just clicked the red button btw

This is so stunning, I'm pretty much speechless :O ♡

Great rendition of a very difficult piece! Looking forward to seeing you perform in the 2020 Chopin competition in Warsaw.

This sounds like a nice music to accompany ice skaters, fast and energetic.

Ok Joel …. A very very difficult piece to play and you did an amazing job!! Bravo! And you played it on an upright piano. Geez.

Wow.. Very nice playing of such a difficult piece!! just amazing! Thanks for sharing. liked and subbed:)

Excellent! Thank you for this beautifully played piece

wow, I admire your courage to play and record it! Thank you for fresh interpretation :)

Joel (...) Wow, I'm speechless. Can't describe how amazed I'm by your playing and this wonderful piece. There's so many different passages which all do have their peculiarities. You did very well in contrasting these passages and working them out to their finest. Also takes some immense amount of stamina to get through this entire piece and keeping up great dynamics and precise pedalling. I think now you have really shown what you're able to to with just yourself, a nice piece, a piano, and cameras. Definitely worth your countless hours of practice and probably all of your viewers' time watching :) Have a wonderful day! ~Michael

Great job! That is a very nice sounding piano. Very impressed with how you handled the treacherous coda as well

Wow, awesome stuff Joel! I've been learning this piece since last spring and man, it is a challenge! Loved your performance, personally I would articulate the melodies at the beginning a bit differently, but other than that I thought it was awesome! Considering the amount of crazy runs and jumps in this piece I thought you handled it pretty well. Keep up the great work, listened to the whole thing!!

Wonderful Piano music, great edition, thank you. i like it. i looked with pleasure to the end. i wish you a wonderful weekend best regards, Lolo

Cudownie, wspaniale!

👽💚 Alien says: Joel Ross! This will be my goal to achieve for the end of the year, *you are a great inspiration* the first quote was so accurate!

Wow.... You are very talented. Beautiful playing 👍🏻 👏🏻

I'm learning this composition, all I have to learn is the "coda" and improve the speed in parts like bar 32, for example. This piece really exhausts my brain, these quick chords and arpeggios in the "coda" finish me off.

SO GREAT, MAGNIFICENT!!!!! Really I love this Chopin's masterpiece and often I listen to it in different interpretations, your performance it's one of the best, therefore the next my big "like-thumb up-upvote" for an excellent rendition. Do you play Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromtu (one of my favourites)? Again my heartfelt greetings from Poland, have a happy day.

Très beau jeu ! Les émotions sont bien retranscrites ce qui n’est pas toujours facile ! Bravo à toi 🎶

Beautiful performance, my dream omg

Yes, a different interrogation. Refreshing everyone once in a while

You did an awesome job o planning this piece

I listened to this ballade loads of times, I know a lot of versions. I really enjoy your interpretation, reminds me the Arthur Rubinstein one, which is my favourite :)

You need way more subscribers dude. Amazing performance

i was so amazed and inspired by watching your play.. you did a really good job with this beautiful piece. Btw i wanted to ask how do you actually get the right tempo between the two hands when it starts getting complicated and fast, because when i practice i always start slower and then gradually increase the speed but as i do it i kinda get stuck because it’s confusing for me to pratice in different speed it’s like it doesn’t line up on how it should be somehow.

Fantastic, Joel.

Congratulations, dear Ross. It is a great achievement and a lot of work obviously. Virtuosic phases are very well mastered : it is impressive (you just seem to be a bit embarrassed in last page, probably because of a lack of training in "hands in parallel" difficulty ...) Your performance is still very poetic. According to my taste you still take too much freedom with tempo (ex : 2 first pages) and probably that you can do even better in transitions (where you seem sometimes in a hurry, maybe because of stress). Your performance is 9 mn 31s, which is very fast (I would be uncapable to play it at such speed !), and you may get some added value to perform it a bit slower in poetic passages. Globally, it is a very impressive performance, knowing that I understand you have just learnt it. Bravo !

Beautiful, amazing job

Hello, under normal circumstances I am not in the habit of commenting on any video on RU-vid, but this time I am doing it: After a tired and frustrated day, I feel like my day has become better, your fingers are bursting with talent! Thank you for this.

Waw congratulations really ! It’s very impressive, learn this piece is my ultimate goal

it was awesome, thank you❤

que barbarooo, tienes muy buena musicalidad e interpretación, me encantó

Stunning!

Good work Joel 👏👏👏

nice play bro ! Keep it up!

You have done a great job, Chopin ballade wow! Be careful with your hands, they look very uncomfortable :0

Excellent performance

Superbe. Merci pour ce beau partage. Pascal

Y yo que pensaba que era imprescindible un piano cola para sonar bien!. Me da ánimo. Gracias!!

Hey it's great to hear an amateur pianist play this Ballade like this. Gives me hope that I can do it as well :-)

Great job!

An incredible performance, this must have been incredibly difficult to learn!

Nice! You should be very proud of yourself.

Bravisimo!

Wow, Joel that's amazing! :D I thought I was dreaming when I saw you posted this! I love Chopin's Ballades so much, but would never be able to play one of them! What an impressive and professional performance! I loved every second of this video! How many hours did you spend working on it? Have you ever watched Krystian Zimerman's performance of the four Ballades on RU-vid (they are among my favourite versions of those incredible pieces)?

👍👍👍 sounds great!

How are we getting this for free? RU-vid is amazing. This is dope Joel! I melted, I danced, and the different camera angles. 🙌

WOW!! So proud you took the courage to tackle this mater piece. You played amazingly and professionally, and few mistakes as well. No better occasion for a piece like this than Chopin's birthday, too! Wish I uploaded this on his birthday, but I think I'll wait for when I get a Yamaha Grand. How long did it take you to get it to this point, and how long did it take you to learn the notes (not counting the emotion and nuances that take time to develop, I just mean learning the notes alone)? Playing this piece is a big step from the preludes and waltzes/mazurkas, so kudos to you. The only flaws I can think of are minor note issues in the coda and lack of expression/emotion in some parts. This piece requires you to capture the soul of Chopin and the piece, and you did a great job overall with that except for a couple of sections that require it. That being said, you played phenomenally and you should be proud. Can't wait for future uploads!

It's a wonderful piano's playing Joel.Congrats my friend. I send you my best regards from Greece. Have happiness,harmony anf creative. like 74 and SUB 619 V a s i l i s.

Bravo

Just wow!

BRAVISIMO!!!!! HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO MEMORIZE??? IM ON THE 2ND PAGE.

Incredible job man! An impressive feat in learning this masterpiece. How long have you been playing piano and how did you approach this piece?Would you say that my 3 years experience (almost 4) is too short to begin? Thank and well done again!

So nice.

dude ballade 1 wow!

Awesome job!! How long did this take you to learn? I've just started the piece and there are definitely some passages that look pretty intimidating but I'm determined to learn it because it is such a beautiful piece.

When you want to show, you are reading the sheet music, but you are not😁

Nothing to say but wow

This is really more exciting than some world class pianists’ interpretations. When did you start playing piano and how long did it take to learn this - my favourite - piece? Greetings from Frankfurt / Germany

Fantastic! Can you tell me how long it took you to learn and memorise this? Thanks...