🇷🇺Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich ： 24 Preludes and Fugues No.20 in c-moll Op.87-20

No. 20 unfolds with sustained tension as the Prelude and Fugue set up a contrast. In the Prelude, listening closely to the repetition of its concise motives and the changes in harmony helps clarify the music’s direction. In the following Fugue, the subject passes from one voice to another, while the overlapping lines gradually increase the musical density. It is important to state the subject clearly without allowing the movement of the inner voices to disappear. Use the pedal sparingly to keep the texture clear, maintain even note values, and shape the performance with an awareness of the overall momentum and climax.