[CAUT] sostenuto

[Kent Swafford]

You are mixing tests for some reason, Fred. Let me try to ask my question
again.
We think of sostenuto as being either on or off. But the mechanism doesn't
work that way. A blade rotates up and down over a distance.

Should we (and pianists) expect full function in the sostenuto when the
blade is rotated down a bit from its maximum height? If so, how far?

Or should we tell pianists, not to expect to be able to get full function
from the sostenuto unless the pedal is fully depressed?

And by full function, in this case, I mean the ability to play a
double-forte blow without its tab becoming engaged by the sostenuto blade?

Kent

PS -- You say, "Or play every key hard, but that takes a lot more time and
energy."

And then you say, "Ain't no shortcuts."

Exactly.  8^)  Play each of those keys hard!

KES

On Feb 6, 2008 3:50 PM, Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> wrote:

>
> On Feb 3, 2008, at 7:59 AM, Kent Swafford wrote:
>
> > My tests of the sostenuto were in terms of actual function, that is,
> > as a player. I can see that might not be sufficient.
> >
> > I had hoped someone might have an opinion on safety factor in the
> > depression of the sostenuto pedal. How far could you let up on the
> > sostenuto pedal and still expect tabs not to slide past on hard blows?
> >
> > Kent
>
>        I guess I'd say you want to have to let up "a noticeable amount" on
> the damper pedal before the tabs start to pop (ie, damper pedal down,
> sostenuto pedal down, let up on damper pedal). That's a pretty wimpy
> (imprecise) standard , and one you kind of have to work out on your
> own. The problem is that this symptom (instant popping of tabs, as
> opposed to however much gap) may reveal a combination of things: could
> be the rod is away from the tabs too far, could be too high, and could
> have not enough pedal play (not getting to horizontal), or just a bit
> of two or all three of the above. But it definitely _is_ a good "one-
> stop shopper" first step to see if you have problems. Then you go on
> to find out what the problems are.
>        I guess another wrinkle is to hold the sostenuto at not quite full,
> and press the damper pedal fully, rapidly and see if some pass. Or
> play every key hard, but that takes a lot more time and energy. Here,
> of course, the position of the up-stop comes into play.
>        All things considered, I prefer to go through the regimen I
> described
> in my earlier post, as it gives me more information in a more
> organized way. Bottom line: you need the rod in about as far as it can
> go safely, you need it to rotate to horizontal, and you need good up/
> down positioning. And you need to have set the stage with an even line
> of tabs, good lift from the keys, and good upstop position. Ain't no
> shortcuts <G>.
>
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
> fssturm at unm.edu
>
>
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