“Ballade” is a somber, meditative piece with purpose to create an atmosphere of drama and melancholy, while at the same time, offering a perspective of resolve with a hint of optimism.

The solo piano begins, establishing the pensive, foreboding air of the piece with a brief introduction that ends with a succession of steadily repeated high “C”s that denotes the ticking of a clock - the footsteps of time. Both flutes then join together in harmony with a simply stated haunting, heartfelt theme. The melodic expressiveness of the winds, coupled with the steady rhythmic pulse of the piano and the gentle adagio pacing, intends to wraps the listener in a blanket of hypnotic sound and color.

The rhythmic pulse of the piano soon gives way to a Latin flavor, tango inspired section of the piece, with both flutes now inter-weaving their melodic lines and figuratively “dancing” together to the spirited habanera rhythms and flowing figurations of the piano.

As the tango-esque section resolves, the main theme then returns in its original form, and the piece comes full circle to end as it began with the repeated notes representing the footsteps of time.