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Posted: |
Jul 25, 2012 - 4:54 PM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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This composer's work has been used in many films, so I'm putting this topic here. Okay kids, I've become obsessed with the music of Erik Satie. My crash course has been the Gnossiennes, Gymnopédies (and Debussy's orchestrations of same), as well as the score for the ballet, PARADE. I'm open to any and all suggestions for preferred renditions of his work and all the (hopefully) fun and informative discussion we can have about this artist. My first exposure to Satie was in 1992, during my obsession for singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, who was influenced by Satie's music. For years he was just a name, and then I heard Gymnopédie No. 1 in the opening credits of Woody Allen's film, Another Woman. That's when I decided to get things rolling and I have not been disappointed. Satie's music changes with whatever mood in which I find myself. Sometimes I hear great sadness, like in Gymnopedie No. 3, but then there's an uplifting quality, too. It's all emotions, shadings, and colors. I don't have to be in a specific mood to enjoy Erik Satie's music. I love the "silence between the notes" heard in his compositions, the "unfussy" technique, and the richness of those Debussy orchestrations. The humor of PARADE is wonderful. So what else of his music do I seek out?
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Posted: |
Jul 26, 2012 - 12:50 AM
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By: |
Alex Klein
(Member)
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Good thread, Jim. Satie's music has been greatly overlooked and deserves much more attention, from both musicians and music-lovers alike. I strongly recommend you get Klara Körmendi's recording (on Naxos) of Satie's Nocturnes (six in total). They are some of the most beautiful and mysterious piano works I have ever heard in my life. Their use of harmony by fourths and open fifths is uniquely melancholic, bleak and yet comforting (if you excuse my subjective analysis). Listen to these Nocturnes and let me know what you think! If you want some of his lighter musical voice, listen to "La Diva de L'Empire", "Piccadilly" and "La Belle Excentrique". Of course, this list would not be complete without his classic "Je te veux". These works are light, completely charming and offer striking contrast to the darker Gnosiennes and the melancholic Gymnopedies and Nocturnes. Similar to the aforementioned is his famous "Three pieces in the shape of a pear" (the name is in french), which are a delightful listen. Finally, most musicologists agree that Satie's masterpiece is his symphonic drama "Socrate". This is Satie at his most serious and dramatic. The work is completely essential for any Satie enthusiast. Needless to say, you should seek it (EMI released it on vinyl and CD, but could be hard to find). Happy listening! Alex
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This composer's work has been used in many films, so I'm putting this topic here. Okay kids, I've become obsessed with the music of Erik Satie. My crash course has been the Gnossiennes, Gymnopédies (and Debussy's orchestrations of same), as well as the score for the ballet, PARADE. I'm open to any and all suggestions for preferred renditions of his work and all the (hopefully) fun and informative discussion we can have about this artist. My first exposure to Satie was in 1992, during my obsession for singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, who was influenced by Satie's music. For years he was just a name, and then I heard Gymnopédie No. 1 in the opening credits of Woody Allen's film, Another Woman. That's when I decided to get things rolling and I have not been disappointed. Satie's music changes with whatever mood I'm in. Sometimes I hear great sadness, like in Gymnopedie No. 3, but then there's an uplifting quality, too. It's all emotions, shadings, and colors. I don't have to be in a specific mood to enjoy Erik Satie's music. I love the "silence between the notes" heard in his compositions, the "unfussy" technique, and the richness of those Debussy orchestrations. The humor of PARADE is wonderful. So what else of his music do I seek out? There is an excellent recording of Satie's piano works, "Erik Satie by Michel Legrand" on Erato. Legrand has 2 other outstanding solo piano discs, "Four Piano Blues" also on Erato, and "American Piano Music" on the apex label.
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Posted: |
Jul 26, 2012 - 4:07 PM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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There is an excellent recording of Satie's piano works, "Erik Satie by Michel Legrand" on Erato. Legrand has 2 other outstanding solo piano discs, "Four Piano Blues" also on Erato, and "American Piano Music" on the apex label. Thanks for the recommendation. One of the things I found myself getting frustrated with in my on-again/off-again interest in Classical music is finding the "best" performance. With Satie, I'm finding that too many pianists are overly reverential and play the pieces too slow, at least to my liking. Just as we film music mavens desire the original recordings, whereas the classical aficionado, not able to be bound by that hang up, must instead fixate themselves on the "right" tempo. Enjoying music can be a neurotic past time...not that anyone here is that way, of course Gymnopedie No. 3 and Gnossienne No 5 are my favorites thus far. Still exploring various versions...
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I love Satie. I discovered him because of Bernard Herrmann, whose version of two of the Gymnopedies was my introduction. I was hooked and still am.
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