Pédale

As Printed on a Score

In piano music Péd. (or Ped.) under the bass staff puts down the damper pedal and a star or bracket releases it; phrases such as sans pédale and 2 Péd. (both pedals) stand above the staff. In organ scores Pédale (Péd.) labels the pedal staff; in harp parts pédales concerns the tuning pedals.

Abbreviations: Péd., Ped.

Also spelled: Péd

How Composers Use It

French piano music often treats pedalling as an idea rather than a map — Debussy left most of it to the player — so when you do mark it, say what you want: a blurred colour, clean changes with the harmony, or both pedals for a hushed resonance. For harp, write the pedal settings at the start and at each change, with time for the feet. For organ, Péd. shows what the feet play.

Example

Ravel, Miroirs No. 4, “Alborada del gracioso”, piano, m. 75: “2 Ped.”; four bars later comes “enlevez la sourdine”, taking off the soft pedal.

Related Terms