Nikolai Kapustin ： Nothing to Lose Op.119

Kapustin’s Nothing to Lose Op.119 is a piano piece grounded in classical writing while drawing on the rhythmic energy and harmonic color of jazz. Its lively motion and sharp accents drive the music forward, while changes in sonority create a refined sense of shade. A key point of interest is to grasp the overall flow and clearly convey the moments when the character of the music shifts. In performance, avoid rushing through the smaller notes; instead, maintain a steady sense of pulse and give the syncopations and accents natural spring. Keeping the chords clear and remaining aware of the melodic direction and the breathing of each phrase will bring out the music’s vitality and transparency.