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The Singing Piano Tone: or The Artistry of Pedaling

by Helmut Brauss

101 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); contains B&W images, and graphs; catalogue #06-2964; ISBN 1-4251-1205-6; US$16.52, C$19.00, EUR13.57, £9.50

A scientific study of damper movement speeds and the resulting sound patterns in modern grand pianos, combined with a pedagogical portion of pedal excercises and examples from the piano literature.

About the Book

This book deals pedagogically with a highly sophisticated use of the damper pedal of the modern grand piano. In teaching piano playing, in particular in the area of the so-called "classical music", pedagogues usually concentrate on the when rather than the how of using the pedal.

In The Singing Piano Tone the subjectively perceivable fact that various pedal movements create different sound patterns is scientifically explored. The research is focused on the speed of the dampers lifting and settling down on the strings. The outcome of exact measurements supported by specifically designed technical and electronic devices resulted in a number of clearly definable diagrams representing the factual acoustic results. It it now clear that the "singing" quality of melodic lines played on a percussive instrument like the piano can be considerably enhanced.

On the basis of this specific and exact analysis conclusions as to how to teach and practise pedal are arrived at. Particular exercises for piano students are suggested and a graphic summary of many possible damper pedal applications is included. In about 30 examples taken from the conventional piano literature the specific applications of the pedal are discussed based on the preceding research.

About the Author

Helmut Brauss was born in Milano in 1930 and received his musical training in Europe. Inspired by mentors such as Elly Ney, Hans Ehlers and Edwin Fischer, he developed an intense affinity to the great European interpretative tradition.

During a career of more than 50 years as a concert pianist, Helmut Brauss showed an extraordinary pianistic ability and stylistic versatility in recitals, chamber music concerts, appearances as soloist with orchestras and in radio broadcasts around the world. His interpretations are documented on a number of LPs and CDs.

Professor Brauss's expertise as a pedagogue, accumulated during a lifetime of teaching piano, chamber music, piano literature and piano pedagogy at institutions like the Musikakademie Lübeck, the University of Regina, the University of Alberta, and the Musashino Ongaku Daigaku, Tokyo, found its expression in the publication of various articles and books, including his ground breaking and award winning work Max Reger's Music for Solo Piano (ISBN 0-88864-255-5) published by the Alberta University Press.

Excerpts