What Makes Nikolai Kapustin's Classically-oriented Works Sound Like Jazz Improvisation by Deconstruction of His 24 Preludes in Jazz Style, Op.53 and Concert Etudes, Op.40
Nikolai Kapustin was a Russian pianist who is considered a composer of classical and jazz fusion. His compositions mainly focus on keyboard literature, chamber music, and big band music. Despite Kapustin's music sounding similar to jazz music and jazz improvisation, he historically denied the role of jazz in his compositions and saw himself only as a classical musician. This document will start an investigation into why Kapustin's compositions have a jazz improvisation sound and how he combines classical and jazz elements into a work. This study will review the evidence of Kapustin's biography, the background history of jazz music performance in the Soviet Union, and Kapustin's 24 Preludes in Jazz Style Op.53, and his 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40, to prove why and what factors make his music sound like jazz and jazz improvisation. Also, the research will discuss how Kapustin passed a thread through classical music and jazz to become a new music.
Classical, Fusion, Improvisation, Jazz, Kapustin, Russian
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