2 ped



[Abbr., two pedals]

A directive found in piano compositions indicating the use of both the damper pedal (right) and the soft pedal (una corda or left) at the same time. In French compositions, the phrase les deux pedales is often seen.

This directive comes from the days when pianos only had two pedals. Steinway invented the sostenuto pedal (middle) and held the patent, so for a number of years, only Steinway pianos were equipped with the third pedal (sostenuto pedal). When the Steinway patent expired, the sostenuto pedal became common on most pianos.

See also, [Fr.] les deux pedales.

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