The Neglected Pedal

Abstract

After one hundred and fifty years of improvements and refinements of all the parts and mechanisms in the piano – a very important invention is rejected, in fact up to this day, due to commercial rather than musical considerations. Today’s great pianists play on a piano whose specifications are adapted for amateurs, according to the requirements of the mid-nineteenth century, “so that there will be beautiful furniture suitable for the living room.” Not only does the middle pedal not exist on most pianos in the world – even when it does exist pianists do not use it, unless “in case of emergency.” The invention that “opens up new possibilities for composers,” and they did take advantage of it (as shown in the examples throughout the article) – remained ashamed. It is possible that this article will encourage pianists to use it properly and will lead to the correct performance of works by Chopin, Liszt, and Fauré as they intended.