una corda/tre corda

[Dave Nereson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2004 9:43 PM
Subject: una corda/tre corda


I assumed that this might have been
> because in the early days there were only two string unisons, so that when
> the una corda was depressed it did, in fact, strike only one string.

    That's exactly right.

> If that were true, then why, when the una corda is released, is the
> instruction given as "tre corda".

> Clear this one up for me please.
> David Love

    The latter instruction must not have come about until after three-string
unisons were common.  Or, possibly, some pianos shifted the action so far
that only one of three strings were struck (seems like then the bass hammers
would miss strings altogether).
    "Tre corda" (which I've never seen in sheet music) should be "tre
cordi", since it's plural.
    --David Nereson, RPT