The rhapsodic piece of almost ten minutes draws its charm from changing metres and various dramatic climaxes within an overall dark, overcast mood.

The Ballade (ballad) of the title develops, after a melancholy introduction, from the yearning clarinet circling melodically over a flowing 5/8 rhythm. The composition was written for the Ensemble Liaison and recorded on their CD Epiphany. It is also available in a 2017 version without marimba (BB 3626).