[CAUT] Sostenuto

[Fred Sturm]

On Dec 29, 2008, at 8:34 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:

> What I am trying to imagine is what possible musical effect could be  
> accomplished by releasing the sostenuto pedal while holding down the  
> damper pedal?

	Apart from the nice percussive effect (the sort of thing somebody at  
CalArts might come up with <G>)?
	If you want to change the dampers being held by the sostenuto -  
change of harmony - and retain the connection of overall tone via the  
full damper pedal, it sure would be nice. Maintaining connection of  
sound becomes a very tricky, rapid fire change of two pedals  
simultaneously/one ever so slightly before the other. You play the new  
bass octave (or whatever), lift both pedals, press the sostenuto,  
press the damper pedal, all in the time of a 16th note. Or so it goes  
in some music I play. I certainly understand the desire, if only it  
could be made to work. If your timing is off ever so little, the  
sostenuto doesn't catch the right dampers. If it could have been  
released ahead, it would be easier to do the timing.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu