Initiated a new genre of piano music; the ballades are not known earlier in instrumental music. Widely defined phrases, accelerated and slowed musical narrative, culminations in great climaxes, or ending with codas full of pathos – these qualities give Chopin's ballads a special, epic tone.

Critical source-edition edited by Jan Ekier and Paweł Kamiński based on manuscripts, copies approved by Chopin himself, and first editions. Its purpose is to present the works of Chopin in authentic form.