🇺🇦Nikolai Kapustin ： Nearly Waltz Op.98

Kapustin’s “Nearly Waltz” builds on the lilting pulse of a waltz, inviting the listener to enjoy its sophisticated rhythmic character and harmonic language reminiscent of jazz. Alongside its elegance, lively momentum and a touch of urban humor intersect, while the exchange of short phrases and shifts in register add expressive color. Performers should keep the overall flow in view, bring the main melody clearly to the foreground, and prevent the accompanying rhythm from becoming too rigid. In the rapid note patterns, accuracy should be combined with a natural sense of swing; careful attention to dynamic contrasts and pedal clarity will further enhance the work’s light, vivid appeal.