The Sordino pedal was abandoned as pianos evolved to meet the demand for greater sound volume in larger concert venues, leading to changes like metal frames, more keys, and longer, more numerous strings.
Historical Context
Composers like Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven likely intended for the Sordino pedal to be used when writing 'pp' or 'ppp' in their piano works, as it was a standard feature on instruments of their time.
Interpretation
The re-introduction of the Sordino pedal offers new possibilities for interpreting a significant portion of the piano repertoire, including works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin.
Instruments
The original Sordino pedal, also known as 'Moderator' by Graf or 'Celeste' by Erard, was designed to change the sound quality to an ethereal, distant, and uniquely beautiful sonority, rather than simply dampening it.
Recording & Production
This CD is the first recording to feature the Margulis-Sordino-Pedal, a modern re-introduction of a once-common piano pedal, on a Steingraeber D-232 grand piano.
Performer Biography
Jura Margulis, the pianist on this recording, is a third-generation pianist and teacher who studied with his father, Dr. Vitaly Margulis, and with Leon Fleisher.
Instruments
The Sordino pedal, re-introduced by Jura Margulis in collaboration with Steingraeber & Söhne, was a common feature on grand pianos in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
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