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Welcome to the ERIC SATIE
COMPOSITION NOTES Page of
aMUSIClassical Directory
Our Classical Music website
for good music lovers.
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Brief synopsis' of the most popular classical music by
Eric Alfred Leslie Satie
Born in Honfleur, 17 MAY 1866
Died, Paris, 1 JUL 1925
Eccentric French composer write music for the stage
Keyboard, Choral and Orchestral works.
Satie 'Fore and Afterthoughts'
1915. Three brief works after Debussy, Paul Dukas and Albert Roussel. They
are Idylle, Aubade and Meditation.
Satie 'Gnossiennes'
These works were written for piano. Similar to his 'Twenty Short Pieces'
of 1914, these selections had no barlines or tiome signatures. They
suggest some forgotten time or place. An orchestral suite was prepared by
Claude Debussy.
Satie 'Gymnopedies'
(zhum noh pay DEE) Three hushed melodies for piano. Satie seems to have made up the word "Gymnopedie". "Gymno" is from Greek "naked" ("gymnasium" is from a verb "to exercise naked"), "pedie", from "paido", "child, boy" (depending on the context). Satie's word seems to mean "naked boys", but the (pseudo-)Greek suggests that these are his reflections on the beauty of form of naked young men exercising or just relaxing.
He never explained the
title of these
early popular pieces, but it appears the gymnopedies refers to ancient
Greek dances done by naked youths over a period of a few days
honoring Apollo. Picture
them in slow motion. Debussy liked the third enough to orchestrate it.
Satie 'Mercure'
Satie collaborated with Cocteau, Picasso and Massine in 1924 for the
second ballet. The Adventures of Mercury musically depicted by
cabaret-style tunes, brassy outbursts and some serene melodies.
Satie 'Parade'
Erik Satie's ballet 'Parade' (pah RAHD') was written in the winter of 1915
for Serge Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Satie collaborated with Cocteau,
Picasso and Massine to create a circus parade complete with acrobats,
clowns, a chinese magician and to keep things lively added cops and
robbers. Picasso's colors brightened the costumes and sets, Massines's
choreography was wild and complimented Satie's score and Cocteau's
scenario. The witty orchestration had gunfire, typewriters, sirens and
whips. There was even a figurative elbowing of Stravinsky. A lick or two
at the Rite of Spring. It was described as 'surreal' exploring the world
of dreams and the subconscious.
vSatie 'Piano
Pieces
for Four Hands'
including
'Cinema' the entr'act from the 1924 'Relash' ballet. Arranged for four
hands by Darius Milhaud, the ballet music of 'Relache' was featured at the
intermission of a film showing.
Satie 'Relache' (1924)
Satie's last ballet with a scenario by Picabia and, yes, a film by Rene
Clair. The title, Relaxation or Liberation actually refers to the French
concept of closing a performance. Plotless nonsence interrupted by a silen
film. Even an American cavalry trumpet call makes its way into the score. A lot. See any good music dictionary. The title is typical of Satie's quirky sense of humor. In the feminine form "relache" means "port of call", but Satie had in mind the masculine -- which in a theatrical context means "suspension of performance". So when the ballet opened in 1924 it almost didn't open at all: passers-by would have read the sign as "Closed"!
Satie 'Sports and Divertisements'
21 short pieces for piano, composed around 1910. Satie's major keyboard
work.
Satie (1866 - 1925) 'Trois Sarabands'
Composed in 1887 and written in the style of M. Ravel, to whom the second
is dedicated. The third is in the style of E. Chabrier, whom Satie also
admired.
Satie was against the strong influence of German music on the
French in the early part of the 20th century. He wrote music with amusing
titles such as "Three Pieces in the shape of a pear"
BOOKS:
COMPACT DISC AUDIO:
Satie: Gymnopèdies, etc / Aldo Ciccolini, Gabriel Tacchino ~
Usually ships in 24 hours
Erik Satie(Composer), et al / Audio CD / Released 2000
Our Price: $11.49 ~ You Save: $0.48
Satie: Popular Piano Works / Aldo Ciccolini
~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Erik Satie(Composer), Aldo Ciccolini (Performer)
/ Audio CD / Released 2000
Our Price: $6.62 ~ You Save: $0.35
Erik Satie arranged for Alto Guitar
Anders Miolin ~ Usually ships in 2-3 days
Erik Satie(Composer), Anders Miolin (Performer)
/ Audio CD / Released 1993
Our Price: $15.49 ~ You Save: $2.48
Hommage À
Eric Satie / Helmut Ockenfels
Velvet Gentleman
: The Music of Eric Satie Audio Cassette out of print.
L'Esprit de France -
The Music of Satie -- Erik Satie(Composer), et al; Audio CD
Satie: Parade, Relâche, Mercure, etc
Corp, New London -- Erik Satie(Composer), et al; Audio CD
Satie: Piano Works Vol 1 / Yuji Takahashi -
- Erik Satie(Composer), Yuji Takahashi (Performer);
Audio CD
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