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That actually was going to be my guess. I have no real idea what the notation "means," but it clearly indicates the use of the sostenuto pedal.

Both the "loud" and "soft" pedals are more often used to smudge inaccuracy in interpretation or lack of technical competence. In the progression of the piano literature we cannot do without them, but I recomend that anyone wishing to be thorough in their approach should perfect a piece first [sans pedale] and then consider pedaling enhancements.

I'll grant that the damper pedal is fatally easy to overuse, but the una corda on a grand doesn't smudge anything; it merely changes the tone color.

First: I doubt that the article "the" would be part of the abbreviated term; second: isn't it more likely that the abbreviation is not for English words?

Regards,

Yes and no....with a piano quartet una corda can be used to smudge, as with large chordal progressions on solo piano. The "odd bum note" is easily missed in the pp crowd

I'm with you on both counts there, Bruce, and it was baffling me! It took some searching, but I've found what I think is the most likely explanation for the abbreviation.

In German, the sostenuto pedal is referred to as the Tonhaltepedal or the Sostenuto-Pedal. That phrase—Tonhaltepedal or Sostenuto-Pedal—is translated as Tonhaltepedal oder Sostenuto-Pedal, and I believe that T.S.P. stands for exactly that: Tonhaltepedal oder Sostenuto-Pedal.

The nomenclature auf Deutsch for the pedal (but not the abbreviation) is confirmed here:

Klavier - Pedale

Flügel (Tasteninstrument)

Steven

I disagree. The blow distance doesn't change, unlike a "soft" pedal on uprights (and certain grands which have a fourth pedal, e.g. Stuart & Sons and the big Fazioli) which actually reduces the blow distance making it easier to "cheat" on pp passages. A properly regulated una corda combined with a well voiced piano merely alters the timbre of the notes played.

You may disagree, but Gerard Willems who did the analysis of the last Sydney Piano Competetion was very critical of the Ukrainian girl for her over-use of the soft pedal in her performance of one of the Medelssohn piano trios. He described her effort as "bleached of detail" from memory, which is precisely the point I make.

"Bleached of detail" is probably not the same as "smudged". I take the former to mean lacking in contrast, or clear articulation perhaps, whereas "smudged" implies "blurry".

Exactly, currawong. Overuse of the damper pedal is what produces a "smudged" sound.

"Bleached of detail" would indeed be an apt description for someone who keeps their foot on the una corda all the time, but that does not mean the una corda "smudges" the sound. The una corda is far more effective if used at strategic places within a performance. Of course that depends on the music, the timbre of the instrument, and of course the acoustics of the room.

It could be and is even likely. I should have thought of the German word...
I agree that "the" wouldn't be in an abbreviation...

Thanks for the comment, CA. It seemed a very plausible answer, and I was somewhat (though not terribly) surprised that it went unnoticed (or at least unacknowledged).

Steven