Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky ： 24 Preludes No.9 Allegretto scherzando Op.38-9

No. 9 from Kabalevsky’s 24 Preludes is a miniature whose charm lies in its lightness and playful spirit, as indicated by the marking Allegretto scherzando. Its finely moving notes and crisp rhythms propel the music forward, while changes in expression between short phrases provide an engaging point of interest. It is important to maintain a bright, buoyant feeling from the opening and to shape the character through accents and articulation, not volume alone. Avoid rushing the tempo, and balance the exchange between the hands and the individual voices to create a performance that is light yet clearly defined. The work calls for sustained energy through the ending and a vivid display of its witty atmosphere.