In 1836 Chopin introduced the term "ballad" into piano music with the publication of his Ballad op. 23, although up to then it had only been used in literature and in vocal music. Indeed, all four of Chopin's ballads have the character of a dramatic story: the musical thread is spun with increasing tension throughout the work, reaching a powerful climax at the end. This Henle Urtext edition has been revised to include the latest scholarly findings.