pedal at pathetique

[aewanko]

I been listening to recordings of Pathetique that use the una corda pedal. do I really need to use the una corda on this one?

[richard black]

do I really need to use the una corda on this one?

Not if you don't want to. It's just another colour, one that's not available by other means (on a grand - on an upright the left pedal is neither use nor ornament). Up to you whether to take advantage of it or not.

[mcgillcomposer]

Richard black is right, it's really up to you. I personally think your interpretation can be greatly enhanced if you use it well (for colour), but it is not obligatory.

[kghayesh]

Well yeah of course you can and should use the una corda pedal at any music, not specially the pathetique. If you have an option to increase and sophisticate your palette of sounds, why not exploit it?
Specially in Beethoven's pathetique, you need to make the music sound as dramatic as possible. What's better than suddenly cutting out and silencing the sound with the una corda pedal??

[aewanko]

i dont think i'll do it since my soft pedal is literally a soft pedal (reduced volume of sound). so is damper good?

[kghayesh]

If you are going to use a pedal, I'd definitely suggest you use the soft pedal. Come on, It is early Beethoven! I'd say you use the damper if you were playing Chopin or maybe later Beethoven. But the pathetique definitely is in need of every dramatic contrast in the volume and power of the sound you make, which is made so easily by the soft pedal.