Gnossienne No. 3

History

Although it is called No. 3, the scholarly chronology places this Gnossienne second among the six historical pieces. Its individual composition date remains unresolved within the reported late-1890 to early-1893 period. A journal appearance in 1893 and the first-three-piece publication in 1913 mark separate stages of its history.

Sources

• henle.de

What to listen for

1. 1

   Descending calls receive a grace-led answer

   Repeated-note calls descend into held endings before a grace-led response. Hear their different shapes above the long lower sound.

2. 2

   The opening shifts into a different response

   Opening-related calls reappear in a changed form. Recognise their contour while listening to the new continuation.

3. 3

   Grace-led tones make sustained replies

   Two grace-led responses linger on held tones. Hear each small lead-in connect to the longer sound that follows.

4. 4

   A familiar opening leads to a changed close

   The opening returns with a different ending over closing bass and inner chords. Listen for the familiar shape within its final response.

How to practise it

Shape the repeated melody pairs above delayed sustained support.

1. Practise the three pairs into the held F-sharp with one gentle direction.
2. Practise the chord entrance after the rest, then keep it below the melody.

How hard is it

About this piece

Collection

French piano colors

Licence

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0

Source

mutopiaproject.org

Credit

“Gnossienne No. 3” by E. Satie (1866 to 1925). Mutopia edition maintained by Frédéric Duperray. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=2131. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

More by Erik Satie

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