Dennis,

The best reference to the subject can be found, I believe, in the excellent book by David Rowland, A history of Pianoforte Pedalling (Cambridge University Press, 1993), page 87-90.

Based on various sources, among which indeed Preisler's diary, he shows that Mozart did own early 1785 a Forte Piano Pedale, a pedalboard. It is an independent, wing shaped instrument, put on the ground, having its own strings and mechanics. Leopold Mozart describes it in his letters as 2 feet longer than Mozarts Walter, and extremely heavy.

At the premiere of the KV 466 piano concerto in february 1785 Mozart probably used his new Pedalboard, probably also in his many improvisations or fantasies. He might as well have used it in the KV 467 concerto, performed in march 1785.

The instrument being very heavy, it practical use was limited. We can understand that it never became widely used. After some transportation efforts in 1785, Mozart left the pedalboard in his house, where it still was at his death in 1791.

What modern performers do or should do? I don't know. I could only suggest that it might be nicer to reproduce the surprise than reproduce the notes. In this sense a pageturner, a member of the orchestra could do the job, as well as a second piano behind the orchestra.

Pieter Kuipers

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