Here’s a piano with a difference: it has four pedals. The Viennese piano makers Feurich have invented a fourth pedal called ‘Pédale Harmonique’.

Feurich began making pianos in 1851. Their instruments are particularly popular in China. Development on the fourth pedal started in 1985 and several prototypes were created for the Paris Conservatoire. French concert pianist Georges Pludermacher is one of several pianists to have shown real interest in this invention by using it to record a disc of works by Beethoven and Schubert. Similarly, positive responses were found at the 2006 Musikmesse in Frankfurt and in 2011, the final version was patented.

The ‘pédal harmonique’ has the effect of sustained tones but in a different way to the Sostenuto pedal. With the pedal half depressed the dampers lift off until a note is played, upon which that damper falls down on the strings, causing the note to shut off. Meanwhile all other strings continue to vibrate in sympathy creating a sound resembling a piano played in a large room or a church. The results are similar to reverb or the ‘remanence’ which is the natural sympathetic reverberation.

The harmonic pedal is apparently extremely simple to use and is suitable for beginners as well as more advanced players. It offers pianists new and completely different sound effects that work for many styles and genres of music. The pedal is particularly effective in classical works containing specific tonal colour or wide ranging tonal palates such as works by Debussy, Ravel, and Scriabin.

It looks to be a great idea although some may say it’s a gimmick. I won’t be rushing out to buy one, but adding extra tonal possibilities to the piano’s sound may become important in future piano development.