Erik Satie

Life and music

Erik Satie was a French composer born in Honfleur in 1866 who died in Paris in 1925. His piano writing could make much from a small musical vocabulary. The Gymnopédies date from 1888. After working as a cabaret accompanist and encountering Debussy, he returned to counterpoint studies at the Schola Cantorum in 1905. His later work reached beyond solo piano: Socrate dates from 1918, and Parade involved collaboration with Jean Cocteau.

Listen for what changes inside an apparently simple texture. Compare Gymnopédies Nos. 3 and 1, then explore how repeated gestures are shaped in Gnossienne No. 2. These are contrasting listening choices, not an ascending difficulty course.

Sources

• henle.de/HN-1072
• henle.de/1072-1697725669-sync.pdf
• resources.ircam.fr
• catalogue.bnf.fr
• comitehistoire.bnf.fr

Where to start

1. 1Gymnopédie No. 3Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
2. 2Gymnopédie No. 1Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
3. 3Gnossienne No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro

More pieces in the Music Room

French piano colors

• Celle qui parle tropLevel 7, estimatedWith Maestro
• Le porteur de grosses pierresLevel 6, estimatedWith Maestro
• Regrets des enfermés (Jonas et Latude)Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Tyrolienne turqueLevel 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• EspañañaLevel 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Gnossienne No. 1Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Gnossienne No. 3Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Gymnopédie No. 2Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro

At the dance floor

• Sa tailleLevel 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Son binocleLevel 4, estimatedWith Maestro
• Ses jambesLevel 4, estimatedWith Maestro

More pieces

• AllegroLevel 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• CaresseLevel 5, estimatedWith Maestro
• Le PiccadillyLevel 6, estimatedWith Maestro