So for some reason today I got home from work and thought I would try to mess a bit with the Waldstein. I had not tried the octave glissandi since I got my new grand 4 years ago. This instrument is a little on the heavy side action wise, which Ive never minded because it tends to make other instruments ‘feel easy’. In any case, I tried the octave glissandi and it was a fucking disaster. It used to come out quite nicely on my electronic Kawai, so I got a bit pissed off and went online to try to find some options.
And sure enough, on one particular forum I read someone suggesting I lick my pinky before proceeding. Now, whereas it’s true it was not a piano forum -or even a music forum- I thought I may give it a go. And lo and behold, the glissandi came out like a sled on Christmas morning. So, lesson learned, never underestimate a wet pinky.
Has anyone had any kind of success with this glissando on heavy pianos? I know trumofo does articulate these octaves but I don’t know if it was a matter of principle of because of the mechanism. In any case, I am a converted licker now. Can’t wait to share the news with the wife.
