Sostenuto vs Indidivual sustain

Clark caccola@net1plus.com
Tue, 13 Feb 2001 10:41:57 -0200


Hi, Ric;

The premise of the harmonic action is that sympathetic resonance is very
important to character the modern piano. Unfortunately, the loud pedal
has the additional purpose in sustaining notes so staccato isn't
available when it's engaged (again, for modern pianos), still sometimes
both are indicated in musical passages. The harmonic action is capable
of damping strings that are played still while permitting unplayed
strings to vibrate sympathetically (more elegant than knocking low
tension strings off bridges). To this end, a second damper lift rod is
installed, and an escapement dolly pinned to the damper lever so that on
release of a key the corresponding damper also is released from the
supplementary rod. It's sort of an anti-sostenuto where IS would be
para-sostenuto.


Clark


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