Ballad of the Leaves

“Ballad of the Leaves” Description:

• Level: Intermediate
• Mood: Swirling, Flowing
• Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included
• Format: Instant PDF download
• Studio Licence Bonus: Cover art, composer notes with mastery tips and “make it your own” suggestions
• Collections: Scenes of Autumn

“Ballad of the Leaves” is a swirling and flowing intermediate piano solo.  Listen to the Autumn leaves dancing on the wind through the rubato phrasing.

Rediscovered during a round of spring cleaning after being written decades ago, “Ballad of the Leaves” was given new life and a fresh 2/2 pulse for this collection!

“Ballad of the Leaves” Level:

“Ballad of the Leaves” moves with a sweeping, graceful mood.  This is perfect for the intermediate piano player who enjoys expressive rubato and shaping ebb and flow dynamics. This piece highlights changing hand positions and seventh chords woven into flowing left hand patterns.  

• Mode: A minor
• Time Signature: 2/2
• Concepts: Sixteenth note patterns, changing hand positions, basic polyphony (held note with single melody notes), 7th chords, rubato, ebb and flow dynamics, D.C. al Coda, 3 ledger lines (one 4 ledger line), fermata, ritardando, pedal

Sixteenth notes act as the accompaniment throughout.  These patterns are found mostly in the left hand as broken chords and scale patterns, which is a nice change of pace from pieces that lean on the right hand. 

The four ledger lines mean you explore over 4 octaves of the keyboard.  The D.C. al Coda moves seamlessly into the repeat and returns to a simpler version of the opening theme.  This brings the whole piece full circle. 

“Ballad of the Leaves” Bonus:

All sheet music has original cover art.  “Ballad of the Leaves” includes composer notes that include mastery tips and “make it your own” suggestions to develop an individual interpretation.

More About “Scenes of Autumn”:

“Ballad of the Leaves” is part of the “Scenes of Autumn”.  It’s designed for intermediate piano players who cherish Autumn memories and spans four distinct meters and moods.

• “Daydreams and Doodles“:  A whimsical Dorian daydream in 2/4 time that feels like a lazy Autumn afternoon.
• “A Mid-Autumn Reverie“: A mysterious minor reverie in 3/8  time where the colourful Autumn leaves are gently falling.
• “Ballad of the Leaves“: A swirling dance of leaves caught in the Autumn wind in A minor and 2/2 time.
• “Possibilities“: Autumn brings a new start that can feel hopeful, or overwhelming.  The relative Major and minor piece in 6/8 explores patterns in both keys.