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MMD > Archives > November 2000 > 2000.11.17 > 10Prev  Next


Is the Piano Sustain Pedal Needed?
By Robin P Clarke

When the piano was being developed, the makers did not think "we want a
sympathetic resonance mechanism too".   All they (and composers) wanted
was a sustain to join chords together with.  The resulting sympathetic
resonances could reasonably be considered a limitation of acoustic
piano sound which can be overcome with electronic pianos.  Likewise the
lack of sustain in the top treble.

E-piano manufacturers seem to me to be too preoccupied with slavishly
imitating traditional sounds, and not sufficiently with simulating the
Erard repetition mechanism's ability to repeat notes without stopping
them first (which a good vertical action can also do).

But on the other hand,  if you want to accurately reproduce a
performance using a player piano, then of course you have to make it
like the piano was, and the list-correspondents are all correct in that
respect!

Robin P Clarke
Birmingham UK
http://www.zazz.org.uk/


(Message sent Fri 17 Nov 2000, 19:41:19 GMT, from time zone GMT.)

Key Words in Subject:  Is, Needed, Pedal, Piano, Sustain

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