It is the harmonic pedal, invented by my father Denis de La Rochefordière. Here is a video explaining precisely what is does : ua-cam.com/video/t7z6cYWjr3Q/v-deo.html It combines its exciting new possibilities when half pressed (piano resounds but notes don't mix up) to the usual 3rd pedal possibilities when fully pressed. It then has the same effects as third pedal, which actually becomes useless. The 3rd medal could be completely replaced by the harmonic pedal that merges all effects, but it was a piano maker design and marketing choice to keep the 3rd pedal on this piano model so that the 4th pedal is recognized as such. At my father's home, we have only 3 pedals but the 3rd one is the harmonic pedal, combining harmonic (half pressed) and sustain effects (fully pressed).
Very cool! Thanks for sharing!
What exactly is the fourth pedal doing? I only hear the normal sustain pedal…
That's my question too. Taking the time to make this video and then fail to explain what it does makes no sense. 🙂
It is the harmonic pedal, invented by my father Denis de La Rochefordière. Here is a video explaining precisely what is does : ua-cam.com/video/t7z6cYWjr3Q/v-deo.html
It combines its exciting new possibilities when half pressed (piano resounds but notes don't mix up) to the usual 3rd pedal possibilities when fully pressed. It then has the same effects as third pedal, which actually becomes useless. The 3rd medal could be completely replaced by the harmonic pedal that merges all effects, but it was a piano maker design and marketing choice to keep the 3rd pedal on this piano model so that the 4th pedal is recognized as such. At my father's home, we have only 3 pedals but the 3rd one is the harmonic pedal, combining harmonic (half pressed) and sustain effects (fully pressed).
The true Feurich grands from Gunzenhausen needed only 3 pedals.