Expert: Jim Frimmer - 11/14/2007

Question
I am having a discussion with some musicians about the use of the sustain pedal on Mozart's music.
My question is: Do you need to use the sustain pedal when playing Rondo A La Turca by Mozart?
My friends are saying that you should not use the sustain pedal when playing any Mozart's pieces.
Please advise.
Thank you very much for your help.

Answer
Although Mozart can be played without the sustaining pedal, in most cases the music will sound dry without some pedal being used.  If the pianist is playing in a room that is dead acoustically, then the sustaining pedal will be necessary (used judiciously of course)so that the music carries and doesn't immediately evaporate (sorry, my terminology isn't great for what I'm trying to explain). On the other side of the coin, you would want to use less pedal in a room that is "live" acoustically.  
Pedaling is a tough issue to describe in writing.  The important thing is that you listen to yourself when you play. Generally, you don't want a lot of pedaling in Mozart or the music will sound muddy and the purity of the sound is lost. Mozart needs to have a clear sound-it's very exposed music and the sustaining pedal will get in the way if it is used too much.
 Experiment with the sound.  If you have a tape recorder, record yourself.  Overpedaling will be obvious in any recording and you should be able to get your answer about how much pedaling to use. Listen ot other recordings as well.
 I hope I've helped. It's difficult to give a piano lesson in writing.