🇷🇺Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky ： The Capricious Woman

As its title suggests, this short character piece evokes a figure whose moods and gestures constantly change. Light, mischievous movements contrast with moments that seem to alter their expression suddenly, making the subtle shifts of nuance one of its chief attractions. It is helpful to hear the piece as a continuous flow in which the character changes along the way, allowing the whole to retain a sense of unity. In performance, keep the melodic contours clear without overemphasizing accents or rests, and convey its capricious nature through flexible timing and changes of tone color. The piece should not be reduced to mere liveliness; its sudden shades of darkness and moments of space also deserve careful attention.