Do you pedal in a sonatina?

[1piano4joe]

Hi all,

I've learned a few of these recently. I haven't used the pedal.

I learned Beethoven Sonatina in G Anh. 5 1st and 2nd movements with no pedal.

Some Clementi which I really didn't care for at all with no pedal.

Wesley sonatina in Bb with no pedal.

And now I am starting Diabelli sonatina in F major op. 168, no. 1.

I think the pedal would take away from these pieces. I like the staccato and the contrasts which I feel the pedal obscures. Anybody else feel this way?

So, as a general rule is it correct to NOT use pedal in either Baroque or Classical?

Thank you, Joe.






 

[chopinlover01]

It's often considered taboo to pedal in Baroque, as they had no sustain. But yes, in later eras, you can use pedal, though it's often only applicable in a few spots.

[8_octaves]

So, as a general rule is it correct to NOT use pedal in either Baroque or Classical?

Hi Joe,

I don't think so. First, in Beethoven's works (sonatas, e.g.) pedal is very important, for example in the moonlight-sonata 1st mmt, which, without intelligent use of the right pedal won't sound good, I think. No matter if Beethoven already had his Broadwood or not. (He had not, since moonlight is of 1801 or 1802, and the broadwood came later - a fact which A. Schiff, e.g. in his lectures neglects, but nevertheless might be useful here ).

Pianos / grands in Beethovens time sometimes had 5 or more pedals, and I don't think they only were made to look nice.

And in Clementi's Gradus ad parnassum we'll find pedaling, too. SInce Clementi was one of the first who became conscious of the possibilities "newer" pianos give to pianists. And he used these possibilities.

__

Baroque music:

Today, we have the chances to use outstanding pianos and grands, with their pedals and with all of their possibilities, when we play Bach, Scarlatti, etc.

But we can also play them on a Cembalo, if we have one, or on other similar instruments.

What we shouldn't do, is, in my opinion, to try to make our modern grands / pianos make "sound like a cembalo": (e.g. by some "miraculous touch" ( which of course doesn't exist ), or / and additionally, by NOT using pedals):

First, we wouldn't succeed, and secondly, the reason is, that we make a bad compromise:
We don't use the full spectrum of features our piano / grand offers, and SIMULTANEOUSLY, the specific features of a CEMBALO (or sth. like that) aren't available, either.

As we can see, that's no good.

What we should, imho, do, is:

1 ) to play baroque works on a cembalo (or similar instrument), using all the features they offer,

OR

2 ) to play baroque works on a modern grand / piano, using all the features they offer.


Cordially, 8_octaves!

[stevensk]

OMG, all this worried, anxious pianists. Do what you like best! -If it sounds good to you, just do it!

[michael_c]

One of my teachers told me to keep my right foot connected to my ear. This may conjure up a strange image, but the advice is golden. Whatever you do with the pedal, listen as carefully as you can to the result. Try out different ways of pedalling, compare them to playing without any pedal. Your ears and your musical taste will tell you if your pedalling is suitable or not.