Regarding Chopin's 10/12

[araconan]

So I was recently listening to Horowitz's interpretation:

For parts like measures 11 and 12, is he holding the pedal the whole way through? Because I don't know if this is just my piano (I play on a digital with headphones), but I can't get that level of "blurred" sound without holding the pedal down through both measures (otherwise I can clearly hear each note). But I've read many times on this forum that pedaling is to be used scarcely. Thoughts?

[j_menz]

Perhaps Horowitz didn't read those forum posts.

[michael_sayers]

So I was recently listening to Horowitz's interpretation:

For parts like measures 11 and 12, is he holding the pedal the whole way through? Because I don't know if this is just my piano (I play on a digital with headphones), but I can't get that level of "blurred" sound without holding the pedal down through both measures (otherwise I can clearly hear each note). But I've read many times on this forum that pedaling is to be used scarcely. Thoughts?

Hi araconan,

Why don't you make up your own mind on how much pedaling is or isn't musically communicative, and about when this is so?  Why base such decisions on the opinions of other pianists?  It is good to know what other pianists think, but ultimately you decide what you do, not anyone else.


Mvh,
Michael

[araconan]

Hi araconan,

Why don't you make up your own mind on how much pedaling is or isn't musically communicative, and about when this is so?  Why base such decisions on the opinions of other pianists?  It is good to know what other pianists think, but ultimately you decide what you do, not anyone else.


Mvh,
Michael

A fair point, thanks for your comment! Personally, I like the piece with a bit more pedal, so that's what I'm going to do.

[michael_sayers]

A fair point, thanks for your comment! Personally, I like the piece with a bit more pedal, so that's what I'm going to do.

 


Mvh,
Michael

[stevensk]

Use your ears

[j_menz]

Use your ears

Doesn't that make it hard to reach the keys? 

[chopinlover01]

Doesn't that make it hard to reach the keys? 

Yes, but it's not tiring!

[kevonthegreatpianist]

Hmm. I've never played these etudes, but I'd probably like Op.10 No.12 with pedal. To be honest, I've only played one etude, so I'm not very advanced in Etudes, although I want to master the Tris Novellus Etudes, because they're generally easier than Op.10 and 25.