🇷🇺Mily Alekseyevich Balakirev ： 30 Russian Folk Songs No.9 Grisha Otrepyev in g-moll

This short piano duet draws on a Russian folk melody. Centered on a songful theme, the movement of the accompaniment and changes in harmony add nuance, giving the piece a sense of narrative within its concise form. Listening for moments when the roles of melody and accompaniment shift helps reveal the flow of the music more fully. In performance, the principal melody should remain clear, while the inner voices and accompaniment are kept light and carefully balanced. The two players should coordinate their breathing and maintain direction through the ends of phrases, bringing out the piece’s intimate, conversational character together with an appropriate sense of tension.