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Topic: Pedaling in Chopin etude questions  (Read 1875 times)

Offline robertk

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Pedaling in Chopin etude questions
on: June 07, 2021, 07:31:32 AM
So now I'm practicing Chopin's etude from the "three nouvelles etudes" - the one in D-flat major where the RH plays both legato and staccato. I'm getting my piano tuned next week and may be ready to record this piece but I'm uncertain about pedaling. The edition I'm using is The Fryderyk Chopin Institute Polish Music Publications, edited by Paderewski. Inside, it says that it follows mostly the exact markings from Chopin's original manuscripts and made only some very slight adjustments when the difference in the modern piano's resonance is taken into consideration. So basically, what you see in my score (shown below) are pedal markings indicated by Chopin.

My question is, if you follow the markings exactly, then the lower notes in the RH don't sound staccato at all, which defeats the purpose of the etude in the first place, doesn't it? I just don't want to be accused of sounding too 'notey' or too much pedal and not enough 'notey-sounding' (detached) etc...

Offline lelle

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Re: Pedaling in Chopin etude questions
Reply #1 on: June 07, 2021, 11:41:12 AM
Pedal marks in Chopin can be confusing. As I understand it he had a much less resonant piano than we have today. I would experiment with pressing down the pedal slightly and finding the spot where you can clearly tell that the bottom notes are staccato but you still get some resonance from the pedal. Then follow the pedal marks, if you wish, but don't press the pedal down any further than that. In certain spots it might seem like a good idea to give more resonance and less clearly audible staccato and then you can do so as well.

Offline quantum

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Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

Offline ivorycherry

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Offline quantum

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Re: Pedaling in Chopin etude questions
Reply #4 on: June 07, 2021, 06:08:52 PM
Learn search engine scales and arpeggios, one must.   :D
Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach
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