Help with pedaling, please!

[carrie10]

 Maybe someone out there can help me?  I'm looking at Bartok's The Grasshopper's Wedding, which calls for una Corda at the beginning.  In line 2 (or measure 7), there is a designated pedal marking for one measure.  The dynamic marking is ppp, so am I to assume that this marking is still with the una Corda pedal?  If una Corda is already marked at the beginning, I'm wondering why a separate pedal marking is given in m. 7?  Any tidbits of info offered is appreciated 

[wnlqxod]

I am thinking perhaps una corda AND damper pedal both pressed at the same time...?

[carrie10]

I thought maybe that was the case too, but later in the piece there is a marking of 'tre corde', which I thought means the damper pedal.  Maybe I'm wrong?

[j_menz]

I thought maybe that was the case too, but later in the piece there is a marking of 'tre corde', which I thought means the damper pedal.  Maybe I'm wrong?

Yep. Tre Corde means lift the una corda pedal off (literally means "three strings", ie, normal).

The pedal markings (Ped *, or ---^---^---) will be for the damper pedal.

Incidentally, if you are playing on an upright, the una corda pedal doesn't work the same as on a grand, so it's use is pretty much not going to achieve the effect that the composer intended.

[carrie10]

So, if the song is marked una Corda AND I see the ---^--- marking should I be using both pedals?  I just found it odd to use a damper pedal in a section marked ppp.  Hmmm. . .

[j_menz]

So, if the song is marked una Corda AND I see the ---^--- marking should I be using both pedals?  I just found it odd to use a damper pedal in a section marked ppp.  Hmmm. . .

Yep, both pedals. The una corda pedal not only affects the volume, on a grand it also affects the timbre; it's perfectly OK to use both pedals, and the effect can be quite charming.