The Fazioli Fourth Pedal 

Seeing that the fourth pedal functions basically like an upright soft pedal, I'd love to see modern grand pianos implement what some uprights have instead for the middle pedal: a "practice pedal" that puts a piece of felt between the hammer and the strings. This basically replicates the moderator pedal in early 19th century pianos, which can be used to hauntingly beautiful effect in Schubert for example, since he was writing for pianos with a moderator pedal. In fact, I'd love to see a modern concert grand with five pedals (which wasn't unheard of in early 19th century Viennese pianos), just so that pianists have different levels of softness and color to explore.

Steinway is like a Ferrari but Fazioli is like a Pagani. I had the pleasure of playing a Fazioli a few years ago. All I can say is it felt like stroking silk.

This kind of mechanism to raise the hammers closer to the strings to extend the dynamic range of the instrument, was first patented in 1867 by the piano maker and inventor Ed. Westermayer. I am thrilled that none other than Fazioli would take up this idea and bring it back to the concert stage. The result is amazing.

Gillette version, with 5 pedals for a even closer shave.

I watched this video out of curiosity to find what this fourth pedal is about. I had to put up with the over-eulogizing by this pianist Lucas Wong, to finally find out that this 4th pedal does the same action as the soft pedal of an upright piano. This is smart, but not revolutionary. So the una-corda pedal affects the sound but not the touch, while the 4th affects both the sound and the touch. The slight difference between the upright "soft" and this 4th pedal is that the former only moves the resting position of the hammers forwards, while the 4th moves the resting position of the keys, slightly activating all of them. A further need of good adjustment, so that all the hammers rest on their keys. I myself posses a beautiful Mason & Hamlin grand from the golden era of pianos, and my lifelong involvement with pianos and their music makes me realize that, although an excellent instrument, the difference of the Fazioli from the other great concert pianos is not very significant compared to the difference between... pianists!

It actually works like the Upright Piano Soft Pedal but turned Horizontally.

So, the 4th pedal is the soft pedal of upright piano.

I had a 1924 Horace waters grand piano whose third pedal was not the typical una corda pedal. It did this exact same thing, lowered the keys for a featherlight touch while raising the hammers for a quieter more delicate sound. I was lucky to have that feature as it’s so rare and unique. But to have all four would be incredible.

Absolute magic, so much more expression than ANY other piano! It’s much more emotional!

Is just like the combination of upright piano and a grand piano❤️

Che magnifica azienda! L'arte italiana di produrre oggetti magici. C'è un doppio filo rosso che lega un pianoforte Fazioli a una Ferrari o a uno Stradivari: il genio e la passione. Viva l'Italia!

Wow, what a beautiful sound coming from a Fazioli! 💛🧡💜

Very good adventurous option of tone and colour. Tasmania, australia.

What if you try the soft pedal and the 4th pedal together? Can you make a video to showcase the sound of this combination?

Fabulous ! I wanna try it out !!! 😭

If there’s no pianist/professor understanding the hostage culture everywhere; at least we have an ITALIAN piano brand that understands it…

Can anyone identify the piece at 2:32? I know I’ve heard it before but I can’t name it. Would love to learn it.

the 4th pedal similar action as 3rd pedal in upright piano

what a beautiful invention !

I disdain Fazioli for making a big flap about this pedal. The grand player pianos (Duo-Art and Ampico, not sure about the Welte system) had a soft or (more accurately) a half blow feature. Instead of using a huge bellow to push the whole action of the piano over (wasting vacuum, requiring a huge pneumatic and making the hammers of the piano wear prematurely) the soft holes in the piano roll would trigger a hammer raise rail pneumatic. The hammers would move closer, the keys would go down making the player action have an easier time playing softer without sacrificing repetition speed. Upright pianos have the same pedal and I have to say, I wish there was a company that makes grands that would eliminate the unacorda altogether, it muddles the ton of the piano and makes the treble much quieter making it easier for the bass strings to overtake any sound from the treble. Indeed I wish more grand piano manufacturers would make their pianos with a half blow pedal, screw Feurich's stupid harmonic pedal, it doesn't serve any practical purpose and only classical musicians can make use of it's rather silly sound.

Beautiful piano's .......... and they play like a feather !

What if we had a Bösendorfer played properly? I am afraid, it would sound better.

3:44 4:49 5:40 speechless

Takes him a while to actually talk about the 4th pedal. Jump to 5:43 if you want to save the time.

An interesting video. I wonder what Mozart or Beethoven would say about it ... - two pedals are enough for me. 😊

I gotta find a FAZIOLI to play around here .... before I die . I’m in the NYC area .... Where can I find one , please ? 🙏🏽 🤗

Wish one day my dream become true to own Fazioli

questo piano è un sogno lucido...

Yup, as I suspected. It sounds like a piano.

I‘d have them glue the 4th pedal to the floor. That’s a good sounding piano…

I don't even know the reason for the left foot pedal, much less the middle one. There's a FOURTH ⁉️‼️

у меня на кубани такая же педаль

Everyone knows the three pedals are, clutch, brake and accelerator. Forth pedal is the parking brake. 😉

Perfect for Debussy

I want to find one that has the loud pedal. The player piano that i practiced on had a loud pedal lever. You couldn't reach the pedals because you were pumping with your feet. Some piano teachers will frown on this comment. 73

First I need to get so many money to have it :(

aparently the fazioli is a ferrari piano

Sorry I didn't hear any difference. My musical ear is really FUQD.