English action
Piano action in which the hammers are not mounted directly on the keys but on a separate rail.
What it means
The English action is a historical form of piano action in which the hammers are not mounted directly above the keys, as in the later dominant Viennese action, but sit on a separate, fixed rail above the keyboard. A sticker mechanism transmits the key's motion from below up to the hammer, launching it against the string.
Musical use
The English action characterised fortepianos built mainly in England during the 18th and early 19th centuries, such as instruments by the firm Broadwood, and produced, compared with the lighter-touch Viennese action, a firmer but heavier touch with a fuller, more sustaining tone. These qualities made the English action the basis for the further development toward the modern double escapement action of today's concert grand piano.
The English action should be distinguished from the Viennese action, which favored a lighter touch and faster response for a brighter, more transparent sound and was common in Vienna and southern Germany. Early English action differs from modern repetition actions in lacking a refined escapement for very fast note repetition, which only later developments made possible.
Performance practice
When playing a historical instrument with English action, expect a heavier, firmer touch than you may be used to from modern concert grands or instruments with Viennese action. Use the English action's full, sustaining tone deliberately for sustained, cantabile passages, while very fast note repetitions should be paced more carefully given the limited speed of the escapement.