Nikolai Kapustin ： Piano Sonata No.14 Op.120

Nikolai Kapustin’s Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 120, combines the structural character expected of a classical sonata with a sense of momentum associated with jazz. Intricately interwoven rhythms, richly colored harmonies, and agile passages keep the music moving forward. The listener is invited to follow the changing character of each section while maintaining a broad sense of the work’s overall flow. In performance, it is important to keep the complex rhythms precise while shaping flexible accents that do not sound mechanical, and to balance melody and accompaniment carefully. Even in faster passages, the notes should not be rushed; clarity of texture and natural momentum are essential to bringing out the work’s appeal.