doubted, but it would apply in most cases of a two-note slur in the piano music of Mozart
or of any other composer.
In romantic period piano compositions, such as ‘Estrella’ in Schumann’s ‘Carnaval’, a
downwards melodic line, even if marked forte without any subsequent marking should
often be played with a diminuendo.
DRAESEKE
Felix Draeseke (1835-1914) published his Sonata Quasi Fantasia opus 6 in 1870 with a
dedication to Hans von Bülow. It was influenced by the cyclical construction of Liszt’s
Sonata. Liszt spoke highly of Draeseke’s work although he did not refer to the influences
in it of his own Sonata.
DUET
A piano duet consists of two pianists, four hands, at one piano, and may also refer to the
piano composition itself. Schubert’s Fantasy in F minor opus 103 D940 is the most
popular of all piano duets. Mozart wrote a number of short sonatas for piano duet.
Orchestral works have in the past often been arranged for piano duet.
DUO
A piano duo consists of two pianists, one at each piano, and may also refer to the piano
composition itself. Mozart showed his mastery of the antiphonal style in his Sonata for
two pianos in D major K448, which is one of his two compositions which triggers the
‘Mozart effect’. Arensky’s Waltz from his Suite for Two Pianos is another popular piano
duo. Organ works and orchestral works have often been arranged for piano duo, or duet.
Piano concertos are often rehearsed with the orchestral part reduced to a second piano.
DYNAMICS
Dynamic levels
There is a maximum of about twelve distinctly audible dynamic levels for each note on
the piano. A dynamic level is a degree of tone quantity, that is, a degree of softness or
loudness. Each tone quantity depends, and depends only, on the force with which the
hammer strikes the string. The force with which the hammer strikes the string depends,
and depends only, on the force with which the key is struck.
Composers often mark dynamics to indicate the general dynamic level at which a passage
will sound rather than the actual force of the fingers. This crucial point may easily be
overlooked but must be borne in mind to aid relaxation and avoid unnecessary effort.
Terrace dynamics