Ballata

(It.). The most popular song form of the early Italian Renaissance, close in function and spirit to the French VIRELAI and the Spanish VILLANCICO. It has several stanzas, each followed by a ripresa (refrain). While the word may be derived from the Lat. ballare (dance), no dance-related ballates have been found. In the Trecento (14th century), many composers produced masterpieces in this genre, particularly Francesco Landini (c. l325-97).

The Russian pianist-composer Nicolai Medtner introduced a combined sonata-ballade for piano. Orchestra ballades were also composed, e.g., ALEXANDER GLAZUNOV'S Concerto Ballata for cello and orchestra (op. 108, 1931).