Nikolai Kapustin ： Concert Etude Prelude Op.40-1

This vibrant concert etude incorporates the language of jazz. Rapidly moving passages and crisp rhythms drive the music forward, while accents and syncopations create a vivid sense of tension. Listening closely to the exchange of short motifs and changes of register reveals the appeal of its concentrated development. In performance, it is important not to let the fast pace blur the sound, but to keep every note articulate and maintain a well-balanced relationship between the hands. Light articulation and contrasts of dynamics suited to each passage bring out the work’s vitality.