Nikolai Kapustin ： Prelude No.12 in gis-moll Op.53-12

This prelude combines the shadowed sonority of G-sharp minor with Kapustin’s jazz-influenced idiom and keen rhythmic character. The music unfolds around short motifs and rhythmic units, moving forward while maintaining a sense of tension. The coloring of the harmonies and the way the melody emerges are especially compelling, as is the contrast between its lively passages and more settled moments. In performance, it is important not to rush the rapid notes, but to make the underlying pulse and accents clear. Keeping the left hand light while allowing the right-hand melody to sing, and using the pedal with restraint so that the sound does not become blurred, brings out the work’s refined momentum.