Piano Pedaling Guidance

Author: Joseph Banowetz
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1992-08-01
Features: An appropriate use of the pedal is a mark of an artistically gifted and highly knowledgeable pianist. The art of the pedal—whether for tone, for resonance, or for sustaining certain notes—must be based on historical considerations and an understanding of the composer's intentions. In The Art of the Piano Pedal, Joseph Banowetz and four renowned contributors present a comprehensive insight into this issue. After outlining a brief history of the piano pedal, several chapters are dedicated to explaining the structure and operation of each of the three pedals on a modern piano. The following chapters delve into the use of the pedal in piano works from different periods and styles. The authors base their introduction to the issues of pedaling and suggested solutions on the performance characteristics and tonal quality of the instruments used by the composers during their lifetimes, as well as their unique systems of notation.