Roy Agnew- Rhapsody (for solo piano), indication (?), Nat'l Libr Australia Scan

[49410enrique]

so i am doing initial review of this piece as a possible work to take on for spring (one of many in a large stack i am thinning out over the next two weeks).

Agnew is one of my favorite composers (influenced heavily by Scriabin).  There are very few recordings of his works available.

I have a scan from the National Library of Australia for this solo (the score is exceedingly rare, I have only seen one used copy for sale online and it is very very expensive).  I have attached two screen shots from the score with a strange pedaling indication.

It says "two Peds"? Which two? usually anything other than the sustain I have specifically seen called for (i.e. una corda or sostenuto or sust. or sus, etc.). Anyone care to take a guess?

I appreciate any help as I won't have access to a teacher for this, If I do take this one, I have been told by my new piano prof for next term that I will be on my own as he said at this time we can't really spend lesson times on any solos he has not taught on or learned himself (or performed or studied, etc) in the past due to time constraints (understandable given his other duties, I want to focus on jazz studies with him specifically so this wasn't a deal breaker, but I don't want to keep putting off learning this piece if I find i really connect with it).

[j_menz]

It says "two Peds"? Which two? usually anything other than the sustain I have specifically seen called for (i.e. una corda or sostenuto or sust. or sus, etc.). Anyone care to take a guess?

I'm surprised you haven't encountered this before, at least in its italian. Left and right - not the middle.  Gives quite a unique effect on a grand - pointless on an upright.

Great choice of work, btw. Agnew deserves wider attention - hope you post here when ready.

[49410enrique]

I'm surprised you haven't encountered this before, at least in its italian. Left and right - not the middle.  Gives quite a unique effect on a grand - pointless on an upright.

Great choice of work, btw. Agnew deserves wider attention - hope you post here when ready.

that makes total sense and probably what i was guessing it might be, sincerest thanks for clearing it up. yeah i'd never come across it indicated like this, again i have really only used una corda when specifically called for, or when i am looking to change the color and quality of the sound (not just play softer, i can't stand it when people call it the 'soft pedal'...i digress).

quick follow up question, at the beginning w basic tempo (pace) indication, specifies the eight notes are swing.  no issues there but when i come across 3 vs 2 (i.e. eight tiplet vs eight duple/duplet),  am i correct to interpret that as essentially a dotten eight and 16th note vs the eigth triplet correct? so in straight time the last note of the triplet  would be last/strike after the 2nd duple, but in swing, it will actually come on time but won't be last as the 2nd duple eight strike is delayed. right? (sorry if that didn't make sense, i can draw it in paint or something if you need me to). not a super urgent question vs the (strange to me on first encounter) indication of two ped. but do want to ensure i dont  learn those rhythms incorrerctly.

btw, spent some time jumping out various parts of the score. i agree with your assessment. omg it soooo good. love this piece (that melody is so catchy, really infectious stays in your head, but you're okay with it because it's so cool sort of catchy). i feel sort of compelled and a sense of responsibility as a fan of the music to really start knocking some of these pieces out to a high (personal) standard and record them so more people can hear them and be aware as you said (he deseves wider attention). my hopes being that time spent wtih some of these smaller scale works (this rhapsody is not 'short' though at 10 or so pages), but they should serve as good pre-work and trainging grounds to those yummy sonatas of his ( i havea few, am hunting for a few still, but man are some of them super hard to find....)

[j_menz]

quick follow up question, at the beginning w basic tempo (pace) indication, specifies the eight notes are swing.  no issues there but when i come across 3 vs 2 (i.e. eight tiplet vs eight duple/duplet),  am i correct to interpret that as essentially a dotten eight and 16th note vs the eigth triplet correct? so in straight time the last note of the triplet  would be last/strike after the 2nd duple, but in swing, it will actually come on time but won't be last as the 2nd duple eight strike is delayed. right? (sorry if that didn't make sense, i can draw it in paint or something if you need me to). not a super urgent question vs the (strange to me on first encounter) indication of two ped. but do want to ensure i dont  learn those rhythms incorrerctly.

Clear as mud. 

Not sure if it addresses your question, but it is "right" when each individual rhythm is "right" on its own terms; how they then line up is irrelevant to the equation.

[49410enrique]

Clear as mud. 

Not sure if it addresses your question, but it is "right" when each individual rhythm is "right" on its own terms; how they then line up is irrelevant to the equation.

seriously. thanks. it's just the answer i needed.

[chopin2015]

hahaha to peds? gross!

just kidding. It says ppp so I would guess the quiet pedal and the sustain pedal.