PlayPiano
The short answer
Caresse is a character piece by Erik Satie from the Late Romantic and Impressionist era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 5, an estimate.
- character piece
- Late Romantic and Impressionist
- dreamy
- gentle
- block chords
- voicing
Also known as Caresse - Erik Satie.
History
Caresse is catalogued here as a character piece by Erik Satie. It is a separately titled keyboard piece. The linked exact-score page supplies the title and CC0 claim; the original work and any later editorial changes are separate questions.
Sources
What to listen for
A melody above several layers
The upper E, F and repeated D sit above an inner F and a much longer low G. Hear the short melodic turns without losing the sustained lower sound.
The melody settles while harmony continues
The next upper D lasts longer before two shorter notes answer it. Lower chord groups continue their pattern. Let the melodic settling stay audible above that repeated support.
How to practise it
- Play the upper E and F leading into the tied D, sustaining the tie rather than repeating D. Add the inner F and long low G, preserving each layer's written release point.
- Practise the lower chord pattern alone. Then sustain the upper D across its written ties while playing those lower changes, releasing the D only when the following E begins.
How hard is it
A simple-looking upper line sits over separate inner and lower voices, sustained bass and changing chord groups. Its slower source direction does not remove the need to balance overlapping layers and their releases.
About this piece
- Licence
- CC0
- Source
- musescore.com
More by Erik Satie
- Gymnopédie No. 3Level 4, estimatedWith Maestro
- Gymnopédie No. 1Level 4, estimatedOpen to everyone
- Gnossienne No. 2Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
