Frederic Chopin's four ballades, composed between 1835 and 1842, are some of the most challenging pieces in the standard piano repertoire. The term "ballade" was associated with French poetry until the mid-19th century, when Chopin was among the first to pioneer the ballade as a musical form. Contains: No. 1, Op. 23, in G minor * No. 2, Op. 38, in F major * No. 3, Op. 47, in A-flat major * No. 4, Op. 52, in F minor.