Solo pedal literature

[grion]

Hello. I was looking for music written for solo pedal, or where the pedal has an almost dominant role.

I was thinking on focusing on pedal technique and to offer something different during recitals.

I am learning Bach's PedalExercitium, that is quite easy, but I think it's a nice idea to "break" a recital with a solo pedal piece (if the console is visible to the audience of course!).

Can you list some pieces (musical pieces, not pedal drills).

Thanks!

[SimonS]

"Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Pedals" by George Thalben-Ball is worth a look. I can't play it (far too much like hard work) but it's good fun.

[tumult_in_the_praetorium]

Ah...the Thalben-Ball - am I right in thinking he wrote pedal glissandi for both feet in opposite directions?

I have the Middelschulte Perpetuum Mobile (sp??) which Virgil Fox championed in his days. This is rather difficult but stuns audiences. Great for showing off.

I think Noel Rawsthorne also wrote a piece called Dancing Feet which is supposedly good fun.

There's the Langlais Epilogue pour Pedale Solo.

Those are pedal solos, but there are some pieces which display particularly, but not solely, pedal technique:
Dupre: Esquisse in B flat minor, Op.41 (pedal octaves)
Bossi: Etude Symphonique
Dupre: Prelude and Fugue in G minor, Op.7 No.3 (pedal chords)
Bonnet: Variations de Concert (a great pedal solo in this)

I have the Middelschulte, Dupre P+F, Bossi,and Langlais in PDF format.

[soubasse32]

I've done the Bossi and Bonnet - very effective, both.

Langlais wrote Sept Études de concert pour pedale seule.

Somewhere there is an arrangement of The Flight of the Bumblebee...

Joyce Jones wrote some variations on "Amazing Grace" for Pedal solo.

Why not try Sowerby's Pageant? I think European audiences may not be expecting to hear this work in a recital.

[acc]

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[Jason E]

[quote user="SimonS"]"Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Pedals" by George Thalben-Ball is worth a look.
[/quote]

Ah, Simon, you beat me to it! But I've only heard the piece, never seen the score. T-B must have enjoyed playing the pedals. His re-harmonization of "Praise my soul the King of Heaven" in the CS hymnal (presumably because the original was too Anglican sounding?) has a very athletic pedal part.

[FrenchHorn8]

Bombardo-Carillon pour 4 Pieds by Charles-Valentin Alkan is a nice one.

[SimonS]

[quote user="Jason E"]

[quote user="SimonS"]"Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Pedals" by George Thalben-Ball is worth a look.
[/quote]

Ah, Simon, you beat me to it! But I've only heard the piece, never seen the score. T-B must have enjoyed playing the pedals. His re-harmonization of "Praise my soul the King of Heaven" in the CS hymnal (presumably because the original was too Anglican sounding?) has a very athletic pedal part.

[/quote]

I saw it performed at a recital once (and very impressed I was too) so when I happened across the score in Foyle's or Chimes or some such I snapped it up. Yes, it really does have simultaneous glissandi in opposite directions. Non-trivial, you might say. In any case, the music is "resting" on my shelf for now...

The arrangement of Praise my Soul sounds interesting, I must try to find it. Sadly, I've just resigned from my church organist post, so I won't be doing much accompanying for a while.

[Jason E]

[quote user="SimonS"]"Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Pedals" by George Thalben-Ball is worth a look.
[/quote]

Speaking of which, Gramophone just reviewed a new recording on Regent: "Restored to Glory", William Hill organ of Birmingham Town Hall. Thomas Trotter, organ.

Looks to be an interesting program. Generous amounts of Lemare (but couldn't Moonlight and Roses be put out to pasture?), a fantasia by WT Best, and the Handel-Dupre-Trotter Organ Concerto 16.

[Havoc]

I once attended a recital where they played "Waltzes for 4 feet" but I cannot find anything back about it. Maybe someone else would know?