Pedaling in the opening of Liszt's Second Ballade

[nomis]

Hi,

In the opening of Liszt's second Ballade, it says con pedal but I'm unsure as to how to pedal the chromatic passages in the left hand. How would you pedal it?

[furtwaengler]

I'd guess a pedal going up the scale, a pedal going down the scale, adjusted to your ear's satisfaction.

Some see this as a programmatic piece, such as Claudio Arrau who applies the story of Hero and Leander from Greek Mythology. In this case that bass passage creates the idea of swimming through a troubled sea, and I suppose a foreshadowing of Leander's fate is an ever present undercurrent.     

[prongated]

...for the stand-alone LH chromatic runs, I pedalled at the beginning and in the middle of each bar. When RH comes in, I pedalled similarly and changed my pedal whenever the melody changes in other places.

[richard black]

Loads of flutter pedal.

[minstrel]

also try 1/2 pedal, 1/4 pedal.

there are really only two things you can adjust with the pedal.. how far you press it down, and how long you hold it.

listen to your ear, and/or a tape recorder.