[CAUT] Sostenuto

[Ed Sutton]

Fred,

So, to hedge your bets, you would set the dampers to lift as early as 
acceptable on the key, then set the damper pedal to stop lifting as low as 
possible, i.e. make the difference as great as possible between key and 
pedal lift. Then set the sostenuto to catch as high as possible, when the 
key is fully depressed, and not very far in toward the belly rail. Thus, 
hopefully minimizing the snapping tabs when the sostenuto is released, and 
also minimizing the chance of accidentally catching all the tabs when the 
damper pedal is depressed.

This would work, unless there is a requirement to catch all dampers with the 
sostenuto when the damper pedal is pressed.

(Am I repeating something someone already wrote?)

Ed
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
To: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>; <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 1:29 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Sostenuto


> 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
>
>