Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
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The Magic of Satie is a stunning collection of piano works composed by the French composer, Erik Satie (1866-1925), and eloquently performed by the French pianist, Jean-Yves Thibaudet.
Most people will associate Satie with Gymnopédie his best-known piece, which has become very popular from its use in numerous film scores including Corina, Corina, Dinner with Andre and the Royal Tennabaums and of course the advert for Bournville Selection, so much so that his many other works are often forgotten. This magnificent album demonstrates Satie's extensive capabilities and gives a sense of his character.
Satie, notorious for his gray velvet suit and bowler hat, composed the majority of his numerous piano compositions reflecting the French elegance and somewhat melancholic style prevalent at the time. Satie, however, was also an eccentric whose vivacious qualities shine through works such as the ragtime-styled Piccadilly March, the exuberant Jack in the Box and the funny Song of a night in Summer. His often-bizarre sense of humour resulted in odd performance directions such as "light as an egg" and "work it out for yourself!"
And Jean-Yves Thibaudet obviously did work it out for himself. His interpretation
of Satie's work mirrors the elegance of the compositions perfectly. He plays with style and finesse. His relaxed performance almost gives an impression of simplicity - and believe me these pieces are not easy to play! Unsurprisingly the album opens with the first of the Trois Gymnopédies. This slow romantic piece encapsulates a gentle melancholy and calmness by its monotonous and languid bass-line accompaniment played under a soft dissonant melody. It was written by Satie in Paris in 1888 and was first released accompanied by this verse from The Ancient written by J.P. Contamine de Latour.
Slanting and shadow-cutting a flickering eddy Trickled in gusts of gold to the shiny flagstone Where the amber atoms in the fire mirroring themselves Mingled their saraband to the gymnopaedia
The almost as famous Gnossiennes follow. Here they are put together in the form of a suite (the first time they have been presented in this format - and it works well). Their mood is in a similar vein to Gymnopédies, these slow seven dance-like pieces are pensive if somewhat sorrowful. The influence of the meaning of the Greek work, gnosis, is evident in the music with Satie's directions to play "from the tip of the thought" and "wonder about yourself" and Thibaudet's solemn performance. Each of the seven pieces has a different character yet connected by a common oriental-type feeling. The first of the Gnossiennes will be recognized by many from the film Chocolat - and is reflective of the film's magical quality. The seventh introduces the first forte (loud) chord startling you out of the serenity achieved by the previous music.
After the second of the Gymnopédies, Thibaudet presents us with two graceful, charming and relaxing pieces. Verset laique & somptueux starts very slowly with progressively deep meditative chords lifted by a delightful melody and Je te veux is a graceful waltz piece, which actually marked Satie's debut as a songwriter. Here it is exquisitely played by piano only.
Next follows three programmic pieces each telling a story. Jack in the Box is actually a three-movement suite set to a pantomime by Jules Dépaquit. It has a very lively if somewhat frenzied hectic rhythm with a fun melody with frequent dissonance. You can almost see the clowns! The Dreamy Fish, similar to Schubert's Trout, but a little livelier and a touch more whimsical, paints a musical picture of a fish as it winds its way down a river. Satie wrote this to accompany a "fishy" story by Lord Cheminot. Le Piccadilly has a definite ragtime, almost Scott Joplin style. It is a fun lively march.
Four short humourous pieces follow. L'Enfance de Ko-Quo is the shortest piece on the album and perhaps the most fun. The music delightfully fits the maternal advice to Ko-Quo of Do not drink your chocolate with your fingers, Do not blow in your ears and Do not put your head under your arm. Sonatine bureaucratique is a spoof on a sonatina composed by Muzio Clementi and is a comic depiction of a day in the life of a business man - could almost be the theme tune for my office. La diva de l'empire is a short piece almost ragtime-like tune originally written to accompany a song. The words of which reflect the affect of the piece: She dances almost automatically / And lifts up, oh very modestly / Her under things of frills and furbelows / Of her legs showing the quivering. / It is at the same time very very innocent / And very very exciting. La belle excentrique is Satie's last work composed for the piano. Notes made by Satie himself show that he had actually intended this to be a kind of retrospective portrayal of French music, "a walk through three different periods in the musical entertainment world of Paris cabaret ".
And finally, Le singe d'une nuit d'été is a fun rendition of a "night in summer" depicting a romantic liaison starting with a flirtation leading to a drive out and finally the parting - a comic delight. You can almost see Marcel Marceau acting the scene out to the music.
I do recommend this album. Thibaudet's elegant and sophisticated performance conveys Saties' romantic style to perfection. It is ideal for relaxation and meditation whilst demonstrating Satie's eccentricity and humour. It is simply a joy to listen to.
The CD is widely available and retails at approximately £12.99. For a taster of the music go to http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000665EW/qid%3D1122800502/026-6950373-1507629 where a sample is available from each and every track - isn't the internet wonderful.
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For some reason, I have always thought Satie was a composer I wouldn't like (without having listened to him I might add). Reading your wonderful review, I will have to reconsider my unfounded opinion (or prejudice I guess). Thanks very much. Catherine
lulucyole 05.04.2006 13:09
Great review. Erik Satie is wonderful! Lucie
putsy 20.02.2006 00:05
You write so beautifully, it was a real pleasure to read this review. I love Satie's music but haven't listen to this album yet, I'll try your link -thanks for that too!
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