Expert: Jim Frimmer - 9/14/2009

Question
Hi Jim,
 Thankyou so much for your answer to my previous question about the 3rd mvt. of Beethoven's Tempest. It all makes sense. Do you have any advice for pedaling in this movement, especially the first part?
Thanks again,
Jamie

Answer
Always pedal changes in harmony.  You might be able to keep the pedal down for the first 3 measures (since the harmony is the same)and the next 4 measures (where the harmony is also constant) but you may need to change it with the measure change.  Pedaling really depends on acoustics sometimes and how alive or dead the sound is in any particular room.  In general, listen to yourself when pedaling, particularly when the harmony does not change and you have the option of possibly keeping the pedal down longer.

By the way, Beethoven is notorious for his strange pedal marks.  He often extends pedal markings due to the weaker sustaining action of the pianos during his time.  Other times, he doesn't mark anything and it's left up to the performer. Take a look at the pedal markings in the 3rd movement of the Waldstein (Op 53) and you'll see an example of what I'm referring to.