Nikolai Kapustin ： Paraphrase Manteca Piano Duet Op.129

Based on the jazz standard “Manteca,” this paraphrase draws on sophisticated jazz language and the driving energy unique to a piano duet. Its striking rhythmic material serves as a foundation for exchanges of melody, rich chords, and lively bass lines, creating contrasts between its various passages. It is important to maintain a buoyant sense of tempo while keeping the syncopations and accents precisely coordinated. By listening carefully to the balance and registers of the primo and secondo parts and sharing the rhythmic center, the performers can create a clear sense of flow beneath the brilliance. The pedal should be used with coordinated breathing between the two players so that the sound does not become blurred.