ShiroKuro I think pedal noise being intentional is extremely unlikely and don't see how it could add anything to the piece.
You might think it's unlikely, but you might also have a little more faith in my judgment as someone who actively listens to and plays Einaudi's music. (instead of automatically assuming that I'm wrong)
I didn't automatically assume you were wrong. My comment was based on my musical thinking. Here's what AI says about damper noise in Einaudi's music.
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AI Overview
The mechanical sound of the piano's pedal dampers is generally considered an unintentional byproduct of the instrument's mechanism, rather than a deliberate compositional element by Ludovico Einaudi
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While Einaudi's music often heavily relies on the sustain (damper) pedal for its flowing, resonant quality, the audible mechanical noise of the felt dampers lifting and falling on the strings is typically minimized in professional recordings and live performances.
Here's why you might hear the noise:
Recording Technique: The mechanical noise can be more noticeable in some recordings due to microphone placement (e.g., miking too close to the soundboard) or a lack of effort by sound engineers to mitigate it in post-production. Some people have noted that the "damper swish" can be a byproduct of recording a very quiet, ambient instrument.
Piano Condition/Technique: The level of noise can also depend on the specific piano's maintenance or a pianist's technique (e.g., a sudden release of the pedal instead of a controlled one).
Aesthetic Choice by Engineer: While likely not Einaudi's explicit musical instruction in the score, some sound engineers might make an intentional choice during production to leave some of the mechanical noise in for a more "raw" or "natural" feel.
However, the primary goal of using the pedal in Einaudi's music is to achieve legato, resonance, and a rich, blended sound, not to highlight the mechanical aspects of the instrument. Most pianists and sound engineers aim to capture the beautiful sound the pedal creates, not the mechanism itself.