The Act of Touch in All Its Diversity; An Analysis and Synthesis of Pianoforte Tone-Production

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...followed by its re-descent, until the completion of each act of phrasing, and the sensation of continuous " Resting " is here therefore very distinct, in spite of the flow of rebounds. This matter will become clearer, when we learn to recognise (Vide Chapters XVII. and XVIII.) how such apparent rebound of the limb right off the keys, is in reality a muscular lifting, strictly consequent upon (and automatically prompted by) the rebound of the key itself.--For it is not in this case an act of wilful affectation, as it is often however observed to be in the case of those who endeavour to ape the merely visible evidences of good, free execution. i The rebound of the key and finger, in extreme Staccatissimo, may be assisted by a slight driving-off action against the key-beds, analogous to the act of jumping or kicking. Unless we accept this dual interpretation of the Act of Touch, we shall be reduced to a still more complex one, the only alternative: we shall have to conceive each individual " note" as being (a) preceded by an individual act of key-weighing, (b) the process of depression, followed by (c) an individual act of resting on the key-bed in the case of Tenuti or Legato, or a " lifting" off of the limb, in the case of Staccato...