Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky ： Meditation Album Leaf in d-moll

This character piece is marked by a melody suggesting quiet introspection and subtly shaded harmonic changes. Within its brief, continuous flow, the singing melody shifts from one expressive moment to another, while changing degrees of sonority alternate between tension and repose. Its appeal lies in the way the main melody’s expression responds to the movement of the harmony, as well as in the resonance found in passages with few notes. In performance, bring out the right-hand melody with gentle clarity and keep the left hand restrained. Use the pedal to preserve resonance without clouding the texture, and attend carefully to the phrasing and the stillness of the rests to convey the piece’s delicate character.