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Does anyone know of an edition of the sonatas with pedaling? I'll be starting to learn opus 90 over the summer when I am not having regular lessons and would like some guidance on the pedaling to get me started.

The Tovey Associated Board edition not only has pedalling, but Tovey advising, in some passages, on how Beethoven's pedal markings might be amended to suit the modern piano, together with his excellent performing notes with each sonata. He of course offers the usual general advice that pedalling has to suit the individual instrument. In short, other people's pedalling, including Beethoven's, have to be critically reviewed by your ears for each instrument you play.

This of course can make it tricky to adjust when playing your teacher's piano, but a good teacher will understand what is involved and appreciate the process you have to go through. As you are about to study Op90 I assume that issue has probably already been resolved between you already.

Let your ear be your guide. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to pedaling. How you pedal a piece in one room on one piano might be completely different somewhere else. You must always be reactive, and not just in your pedaling!

I agree with what Dan has written. I would add that a knowledge of the style appropriate for a specific work, depending on whether it's an early Beethoven opus or a later one, should also be part of the decision on how you use the pedal.

Regards,

Thanks for the recommendations - the Tovey looks like it will be quite helpful as a starting point.

I'll add to be careful with Tovey's suggested fingerings. These have led me astray a few times.

Great point. Op 90 is especially interesting in this regard because it seems to bridge the middle and late period pieces.

They are not Tovey's fingerings - apart from perhaps a few suggestions of historic fingerings borrowed from earlier masters. Tovey edited the sonatas and provided the commentaries but the fingerings are by Harold Craxton of the Royal Academy of Music. The edition is by the Associated Board of the Royals Schools of Music and they would naturally want one of their guys to have a key role in the creation of that edition.

John

The Schnabel edition is quite authoritative on all aspects of the sonatas. You will find detailed pedal indications. He had a very unorthodox view toward fingering, so take it with a grain of salt. In general, his fingering was focused on providing finger legato to minimize overpedaling.