The Art of Piano Pedaling: Two Classic Guides

With Rubinstein considered Liszt's only possible rival on the concert stage, and Carreño as the foremost woman pianist of the late nineteenth century, it is an unexpected gift that both have left behind insights into that supremely important — but grossly neglected — aspect of performance called "the soul of the piano": the art of piano pedaling. Their treatment of pedaling is of the utmost importance, not only from a historical standpoint, but for what it can still teach even the most sophisticated player. Rubinstein's pedaling technique is explored using specific examples from a vast repertoire of works he performed in 1885-6. Carreño's observations — written in a warm, non-academic style — explore her sensitivity to the most subtle keyboard colorings made possible through combinations of touch and pedal.