Introduction to the Harmonic Piano Pedal in Historical Context (Duration 17 mins)

This 17 minute HD video places the new harmonic piano pedal invented by Denis de la Rochefordière in historical context with musical examples played by Paul Barton.

[NiclasThobaben]

I think this new technology is quite interesting, but I think this is more for pieces of the impressionism and modern music. Personally I llike the dry sound of the piano for pieces by Haydn and so on. I think this is a great invention for modern composers, to create new musical colours and textures on the piano.

Honestly, this seems much more useful than the fourth pedal that Fazioli and Stuart&Sons use, which just does the same thing the "una corda" pedal does in an upright piano, which is quite easy to achieve with your hands. This pedal not only adds new sound possibilities to the piano, but from your description, it seems that it can almost entirely replace the damper and sostenuto pedals. I would definitely love to try such a piano, and I think more piano makers need to implement this.

[fartwrangler]

If the harmonic pedal also functions as the damper pedal (in its second position), then why are there -four- pedals?  It would seem that only three are needed:  sostenuto, una corda, and harmonic/damper.

Or am I missing something?

[macguionbajo]

Man, Clair de Lune brought me to your other spectacular channel, now I discover this. The information you share within this video is amazing, awesome, and your capability of showing us the beauty of the harmonic pedal and every part of this marvelous instrument is fascinating. I wont rest until I've seen all of your videos. Thanks so much for this wonderful material.

[Juraberg]

Thank you for this comprehensive and easy to understand demonstration. Excellent video, tone and cut.👍🏼👍🏼

[laceyfurgason]

Just wondering, if the harmonic pedal can also act as a damper pedal, could you essentially take out the damper pedal? Or do you keep it in for those not wishing to use it? And, could you use more than one pedal at once? For example, the una corda pedal at the same time as harmonic?

[tomjones]

Wow. What a game changer for the piano.

[mtheinvincible]

Is Feurich the main company that manufactures pianos with this pedal type? Are there competitors and pricing ranges, with other harmonic pedals?

[NeemanPianoDuo]

I'm curious, what happens if you use the sostenuto pedal and the harmonic pedal together? If you hold a chord on the sostenuto pedal and use the harmonic pedal, will that chord stay down?

The harmonic pedal sound on half position gives a scary reverb. It sounds unfamiliar, more like the feeling of the bottom of the sea, as you imagine the vastness, and a huge area. Anyway to me it just sounds creepy and eerily.

[ThomasAndersenPiano]

Very interesting video! If I can afford one in the future, I will buy a Feurich Piano!!

[FilipusWisnumurti]

so the first pedal is the hrmonic pedal, so what is the second pedal? the traditional damper pedal?

[slpianoproject]

Hi paul, another quite instructive video! Just a quick question : the pedal seems to hold in half position on its own... Does it? If so what you clip it in place and release when your done?

[PutItAway]

It's like he piano is suddenly in a hall with beautiful acoustics

[Widiar]

Very interesting and educational. Thank you for sharing.

[circular]

That's really the pedal that was missing on my piano. The damper pedal was ok for chords but with melodies that was often too much. But without damper pedal it was too dry.

[xeniorn]

What's the Bach piece being played around 4:00?

[tomershporn]

nice video, but i think u should have put another camera in pedal-angle.... could u do that?

[harryandruschak]

When was this patented? How many piano builders offer this option?

[henrique]

The pianos that I know have three pedals: The left(uma coda) the second, Tonal pedal and the more used, the right pedal. What is the difference of Harmonic pedal and the Tonal pedal?