Edmund Löffler

Ballad

The musical form of the ballad - vocal and instrumental - developed from the medieval dance song and reached its peak in the 19th century. Typical features of the ballad are narrative and dramatic elements, but one also finds passages of a lyrical and cheerful nature.

The ballad for 4 winds by Edmund Löffler begins with a serious and yearning sounding theme, which after its development leads to a fast, dramatically moving movement. This is followed as a contrast by a solemnly designed manner.

Then the colors become brighter. A lilting melody in 2/4 time forms the transition to a cheerful and dance-like melody in 6/8 time. And now the inversion of a previous motif in a faster tempo and with increased dynamics brings the ballad to a close.

This edition contains the following parts:
1st voice C (flute)
1st voice C (oboe)
1st voice Eb (Eb clarinet/alto saxophone I Eb)
1st voice in Bb trumpet (flugelhorn/clarinet)
2nd voice in Bb trumpet (flugelhorn/clarinet)
2nd voice in Bb trumpet (flugelhorn/clarinet). Voice Eb (Clarinet I Eb)
2. Voice Eb (Alto Saxophone II Eb/Horn I Eb)
3. Voice in C Trombone (Baritone/Bassoon)
3. Voice Bb (Tenor Horn, Tenor Saxophone, Trombone)
3. Voice Eb (horn II Eb)
4th voice in C trombone (baritone/bassoon)
4th voice Bb (trombone, baritone)
4th voice Eb (tuba Eb/baritone saxophone Eb)
4th voice C (basses)
Percussion