Johannes Brahms ： Seven Fantasies No.1 Capriccio in d-moll Op.116

This Capriccio opens Brahms’s late piano collection Seven Fantasies. In keeping with the indication Presto energico, it begins with tense motion and strong forward drive, while the contrast between powerful passages and more songful sections shapes its expressive character. It is important to clarify the direction of the inner voices and melodic lines without allowing them to be buried in the fine flow of notes. While maintaining the tempo, carefully identify the peaks of each phrase and avoid stressing accents mechanically; this brings out the shifting expression within the work’s weighty sound. Use the pedal only insofar as it does not cloud the texture, allowing it to support the changing sense of tension and release.