Pedal and Moderator for Schubert's Impromptus: The Versatility of the Viennese pianoforte Explained

In this conversation we had in November 2019 after the first recording session, we talk about the use of the pedals in the Fritz pianoforte and we deepen into the recording of the Schubert's Impromptus D899, explaining how we came across certain decisions on the exploitation of the moderator and the sustained pedal. All of this is related to the interpretation we had of the score and to the speed indicated by Sturm's metronome numbers on this piece. Enjoy our talk!

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[siegfriedstark]

Wim is taking part in a new revolution in the way classical music can be experienced by the new generations: these talks and interactions related to online live performances are part of the trends for the future! New modes of living music are coming to the fore and Wim Winters is part of it all! Thanks a lot, Wim! Great job! Please, keep the party on!

[Gustavofeanor]

Thanks for the priviledge of witness and somehow being part of this conversación.

[mortonbaychestnut]

Ok... I will admit again... Schubert=my favourite + G flat impromptu=favourite piece! The moderator adds a surreal sensation - wow!! I have listened, played, hummed, etc this piece countless times, but its ability to stir our emotions to the core replays itself every single time... 04:28 yeah man!

[Rollinglenn]

Fifth? Anyway, here is my equation for this Schubert work: Damper + Moderator = Magic!

[untl]

the moderator sound is very beautiful 😍

[andysleeper]

Thank you for sharing this conversation. I struggle with finding the tempo and pedal technique for this impromptu on my piano, and I continue to experiment. Please share more of these debates.

[musicalintentions]

Wonderful video, and I love the photo of your dog with the toy at the end. :~)

[bryanbarajasBB]

Cool! You should read Edgar Poe on sleep and poetry! Keep this approach!

[MegaMech]

Schubert likely would have wrote something like "hold pedal down whole time." This is similar to Beethoven's moonlight sonata. No right or wrong sure, but I find it more likely he expected the musician to do what's necessary for the pedaling.

[뚕쥰쨩성젼환수슐시키]

Wonderful! Where did you buy that fortepiano?

[jimwells]

Using the moderator is helping you bring out the melody and suppressing the arpeggio notes. I was going to say that without the moderator, you have to really hit / bring out the melody more because, at that tempo, the melody was getting lost in the arpeggios. I think you can bring out the melody without the moderator also by hitting the melody notes harder.

[arastoomii]

I always thought it's impossible to improvise sth that fast, especially about chopin's c# minor.

[mortonbaychestnut]

Ahh... Schubert and heavenly length... lets savour, luxuriate, immerse and behold the magic... We dont want the experience to end... 03:44... but nothing lasts, even music which defies the inevitability of time! Poor guy died when he was only 31; nothing lasts, even genius...

[lordauriel]

why tho... impromptu 3 is andante.. the upper voice / melody