Bebung...??

[leigh anne]

What is bebung?? Not sure if I spelled it correctly but I saw this on one of my piano books and uh when I saw that name with the symbol (the part of that book is when it says the name of symbols) I was like What Is This?? Sounds Chinese or whatever. So when you see that "Bebung" thing what do I do? I have seen that symbols in some piano pieces and I am very much confused. Thanks!

- Leigh

[jamienc]

Bebung is the vibrato effect you could achieve on early keyboards that was the result of altering the pressure on the key after having depressed it to contact the string. Some early keyboard actions before the double escapement was invented had what was called a “tangent” that struck the string but did not release until the performer physically lifted off the key. Since the tangent could remain in place, one could change the pitch slightly by engaging the key in a similar manner by which a violinist would manipulate a string with their left stopping hand. It is one of the rare and unique instances of sound manipulation on a keyboard after the string has been activated. Mainly on instruments prior to the Baroque period.

[lelle]

What jamienc said. Which piece did you see this in? 

[leigh anne]

What jamienc said. Which piece did you see this in? 

I saw this long long ago in the third movement of moonlight sonata. I play it as a usual note, which sounds different from the original.  At least now I know. Thanks to you both!

[lelle]

That's odd. I have all the Beethoven sonatas as Urtext, and nowhere it says "bebung" in the third movement, or any movement of any sonata for that matter. Wonder what edition you had?

[leigh anne]

That's odd. I have all the Beethoven sonatas as Urtext, and nowhere it says "bebung" in the third movement, or any movement of any sonata for that matter. Wonder what edition you had?

I don't know... I only got that free online.  😅

[quantum]

A demonstration of the sound:

Discussion on sources that give instruction on the technique:

[jamienc]

Yeah, there are certainly no indications of bebung in any Beethoven sonata. It appears in the works of Bach’s sons (C.P.E. in particular) and others but by the time Mozart and Beethoven came around it faded due to the developments of the harpsichord and fortepiano.

[quantum]

Yeah, there are certainly no indications of bebung in any Beethoven sonata. It appears in the works of Bach’s sons (C.P.E. in particular) and others but by the time Mozart and Beethoven came around it faded due to the developments of the harpsichord and fortepiano.

I wonder if this is a historical or period edition with editorial opinions baked into the score. 

[symphonicdance]

Bebung was used by Beethoven in his sonatas. I think the bebung in 3rd movement of Op 110 is a good example. Couldn't find the below on youtube or free channel, but Kovacevich did explain and demo.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7983002--stephen-kovacevich-beethoven-piano-sonatas-nos-21-31