I can see how this might be with the Waldstein (C major). I'm not sure how this would apply with the Moonlight Sonata (C# minor, if my memory serves me well). David Love ----- Original Message ----- From: <A440A@AOL.COM> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: March 13, 2002 5:43 PM Subject: Re: I Wish! > David writes: > >There are other pedal markings in Beethoven that are sometimes modified > >to deal with the difference in sonority between the period and modern > instruments. > > The opening to the Waldstein comes to mind. > > Greetings, > I have seen evidence, along with whole groups of tuners at lectures, > that the modern piano's sustain is not as large a factor in the use of > original markings as the use of an age-appropriate temperament. The > ubiquitous beating that comes from ET creates a blur that doesn't arise when > a WT is in place. One concrete example that comes to mind is when I gave a > presentation for the Austin chapter. Many in the class noticed it when the > artist played the same passage, pedal down, on the WT piano and then repeated > it on the ET piano. The difference in clarity was profound. > Try it, the sound of the music is much more convincing than the weight > of historical speculation. On a well-tempered piano, the pedal can usually > be used as the composer directs. > Regards, > Ed Foote > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC