Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 15: Ballade: tempo and how to practice it

Burgmüller Op. 100 No. 15: Ballade is part of “25 Études faciles et progressives, Op. 100” by Friedrich Burgmüller (1806–1874). Main focus: dramatic character with a motif in the low register. In our transcription it is in C minor, in 3/8 time, and 96 bars long. Suggested tempos: start at ♩ = 78 to learn it, practice at ♩ = 120 and work up to the target of ♩ = 156. Difficulty 3/10 (beginner).

The pattern and its fingering

First bar of our transcription, note by note, with the fingering the app shows.

Right hand	C–E♭–G–C–E♭–G–C–E♭–G
Left hand	C–B–C–G–A–B

■ right hand (finger above) · ■ left hand (finger below)

What it trains

Dramatic character with a motif in the low register.
Contrast of dynamics and articulation between sections.

How to practice it

Picture the scene in the title before you play: the character decides the tempo and the touch.
Play the melody alone while singing it in your head; then add the accompaniment more softly.

Tempo ladder: ♩ = 78 → ♩ = 99 → ♩ = 120 → ♩ = 138 → ♩ = 156. Only move up a step once the take comes out clean; in the app, the progressive metronome does it for you.

Composer	Friedrich Burgmüller (1806–1874)
Work	25 Études faciles et progressives, Op. 100
Difficulty	3/10 · Beginner
Key	C minor
Time signature	3/8
Bars	96
Suggested tempos	learn ♩ = 78 · practice ♩ = 120 · target ♩ = 156
Where the target tempo comes from	composer's metronome mark: ♩. = 104, i.e. ♩ = 156, printed in the first edition (Paris, 1851)
Transposable	no
Status in the app	Available
Copyright	public domain: Burgmüller died in 1874