I Wish!

[David Love]

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
>
>