Pedal help for Chopin E Minor Prelude Op. 28, No. 4

[Kwai Chang Caine]

I am learning this beautiful piece and am having a bit of trouble
preventing the left hand from sounding choppy. I am using the pedal
exactly as the sheet music markings indicate I should - for the
measures where pedal use is indicated, I of course have no trouble
making the repeated chords sound smooth and flowing, but for the
measures where no pedal use is indicated, try as I might, I am having
a hard time not making the chords sound choppy with gaps between them.

I never hear this when I hear recordings of this piece and while I
have no illusions about my own skill level, I wonder if this is
because others use the pedal more liberally than what the sheet music
indicates. If I basically use the pedal everywhere, just release/
clarify at each chord change, it sounds much better, but I don't know
if I am just using the pedal to cover up my lack of technique.

Any advice would be helpful!!

[Alex Blakemore]

The pedal is part of the instrument, as much as the keys are.
The sound is the important thing.

[laraine]

I have a Paderewski edition of the Preludes
that claims to follow the Chopin originals
closely. There are hardly any pedal markings
in Prelude 4, yet there are many in other preludes.

A note says: "Those passages in which Chopin
has not marked the pedalling are generally explained
by the fact that the pedalling required is very simple,
and is therefore self-evident; or, on the contrary, that
it is so subtle as to be too complicated, if not
impossible, to indicate."

For Prelude 4, I don't see how you could play
it without a lot of pedal, perhaps a _/\_ at every chord
change. It sounds as though your edition made
some educated guesses for the pedalling. I
don't see anything wrong with adding more, if
you like, though you might ask someone (or
listen to a recording of yourself) to make sure
that it doesn't sound more blurred than you think.

C.

[Dean Tran]

All Allfred edition for Chopin music clarify the unabridge version of
Chopin's.

Every time the chords in the left hand changes, you mute and hold
the
pedal with an exception - on the right hand, when there is/are
notes on the middle of the same chord, mute and hold the until the
next chord
on left hand changes. this is a slow piece, use metronome to adhere to
strict timing
as Chopin always insisted, it should make the piece smooth.

light force on the left hand, it is the right hand that make the
melody of this popular piece.
the left hand dictates the timming, the right hand follows. it's not
the speed, it is the smoothness
when the right hand is sure and quick.

this piece is easy to play and not easy to make it sounds beautiful

[Kwai Chang Caine]

Thanks, Dean! That's what I have settled on as well after playing
around with it for a while. And I agree - this is a beautiful piece -
relatively easy to get the notes down and as I am finding out, rather
difficult in getting the sound right!