The Art of Pedaling: A Manual for the Use of the Piano Pedals

by Heinrich Gebhard, Leonard Bernstein (Introduction)

Fine piano playing requires many essentials, including tone, technique, rhythm in all of its varieties, phrasing, dynamics — and the use of the pedals, especially the damper pedal. The artistic and tasteful use of the pedal adds to the interest and beauty of performances and forms an intrinsic part of interpretation. This classic guide explains pedaling's most important uses and assists students in developing their instincts for musical and artistic pedaling.
Anton Rubinstein called the damper pedal "the soul of the piano," yet instruction and technique on its use can be difficult to come by. This volume remedies that neglect, with numerous examples from piano literature that illustrate the effects of pedaling. Its author, Henrich Gebhard, was an acclaimed twentieth-century composer, teacher, and virtuoso pianist. His students included Leonard Bernstein, who provides an Introduction with warm reminiscences of his instructor and mentor.

Genres: Music

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2012

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a lot of books in this genre, how useful it is depends on what you are looking for in a text and your own opinion on interpreting a composer's work. This is not a book for the beginning pianist. It briefly mentions the basic before it dives straight into the advanced techniques. Please note, Gebhard does advocate for interpreting some composers' works from the pre-pedal era as if pedals existed, so if your interpretations lean towards the historically pure, this may not be the book for you.