The Ballade in A minor, Op. 33 is an early composition by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912). Written only a year after completing his education at the Royal College of Music, this one-movement work full of ravishing melodies and lush string moments owes its existence to Coleridge-Taylor’s mentor, Sir Edward Elgar. When Elgar was offered a commission by the 1898 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester, Elgar responded, “I have received a request from the secretary to write a short orchestra thing for the evening concert. I am sorry I am too busy to do so. I wish, wish, wish you would ask Coleridge-Taylor to do it. He still wants recognition, and he is far and away the cleverest fellow going amongst the young men. Please don’t let your committee throw away the chance of doing a good act.” Upon being offered the commission at Elgar’s suggestion, Coleridge-Taylor wrote a work that develops his own voice while still retaining elements of his musical heroes such as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Dvork.

Instrumenation in set: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1): Str (9-8-7-6-5). This edition has been edited by Nancy Bradburd.