A History of Pianoforte Pedalling (Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs) [Hardcover]

David Rowland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521402662 | ISBN-13: 978-0521402668 | Publication Date: January 28, 1994

David Rowland traces the history of piano pedaling from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to its first maturity in the middle of the nineteenth century and beyond. Pedaling technique was a major feature of nineteenth-century piano performance and, coupled with new developments in piano structure, inspired many composers to write innovative works for the literature. Rowland examines this through the technique and music of composer-pianists such as Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin and follows the transition from harpsichord and clavichord to piano. The book also includes an appendix of translated extracts from three well-known piano-pedaling tutors.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Although this is admittedly a highly specialized study, it is one that should not be neglected by musical historians, or by pianists who are interested in improving their understanding of the music of the past." Notes

"Rowland has done a great service by gathering together all of the 'hard' evidence: quotations from treatises, descriptions of performances, students' accounts, and musical examples with composers' pedal markings. Pianists will find much that is fascinating ..." Early Keyboard Journal

Book Description

David Rowland traces the history of piano pedalling from its beginnings in the eighteenth century to its first maturity in the middle of the nineteenth century and beyond. Pedalling technique was a major feature of nineteenth-century piano performance and, coupled with new developments in piano structure, many composers were inspired to write innovative works for the literature. Rowland examines this through the technique and music of composerSHpianists such as Beethoven, Liszt, and Chopin and follows the transition from harpsichord and clavichord to pianot. The book also includes an appendix of translated extracts from three well-known piano-pedalling tutors.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 206 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521402662
• ISBN-13: 978-0521402668
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,713,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much Needed Research, December 5, 2000

By 

Anne Alleva (Windsor, Connecticut USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of Pianoforte Pedalling (Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs) (Hardcover)

David Rowland provides the historian and piano enthusiast with much needed research into an important, but often neglected, area of musical performance practice. In this concise but powerful book, the author traces the transition in preferred musical instruments from the harpsichord to the clavichord to the piano in the 18th century. Documentary evidence of Mozart and his contemporaries is offered, as well as chapters on pedaling by 18th century and early 19th century piano tutors. The appendix contains translations of methods by J. P. Milchneyer (1797),Louis Adams (1804) and Daniel Steibelt (1809). Since early pedal markings are often confusing or nonexitent, this work provides much needed guidance for the pianist, teacher or historical researcher.