Nikolai Kapustin ： Prelude No.16 in b-moll Op.53-16

No. 16 from Kapustin’s 24 Preludes is grounded in the dark colors of B-flat minor, while its clear rhythmic drive and refined harmony reveal a vocabulary reminiscent of jazz. The development of short phrases and changes of register create forward momentum, and the contrast between passages of tension and moments of relaxation is one of the work’s attractions. In performance, it is important to maintain precise control of the intricate rhythms without making the accents too hard. Bringing the melody clearly above the inner voices and accompaniment, while using the pedal sparingly to keep the sonority clear, allows both the vitality and the darker shades to come through.