[CAUT] sostenuto

[Ron Poire]

Whenever I had a chance, I would tell faculty, that the sostenuto was either on or off.
Its function is to hold a damper or (s) while other keys were played.
I would then tell them, that it would work best when the pedal is fully depressed.  If you let up a little on the pedal, you might get some different results.
Here in Minnesota, you can time the dampers to lift properly in the dry season.  When summer comes, the underlevers are way up, and the dampers barely lift, because the damper felts take on so much moisture.
The best thing for us, is to do all your damper work during spring break, and you will result with something which works most of the time.
When I was laid off, I can say all the sostenutos were working.
best, 

Ron Poire 


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kent Swafford 
  To: College and University Technicians 
  Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 4:54 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] sostenuto


  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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