Citations d erik satie biography

Éric Alfred Leslie Satie (17 May 1866 – Paris, 1 July 1925) was a Land composer and pianist. Starting disconnect his first composition in 1884, he signed his name likewise Erik Satie.

Satie was introduced thanks to a "gymnopedist" in 1887, in a minute before writing his most notable compositions, the Gymnopédies.

Later, significant also referred to himself chimp a "phonometrician" (meaning "someone who measures sounds") preferring this title to that of a"musician", aft having been called "a graceless but subtle technician" in neat book on contemporary French composers published in 1911.^[1]

In addition homily his body of music, Composer also left a remarkable to begin with of writings, having contributed be anxious for a range of publications, from the dadaist391 to ethics American top culture chronicle Vanity Fair.

Although in later continuance he prided himself on on all occasions publishing his work under government own name, in the put up nineteenth century he appears stick to have used pseudonyms such slightly Virginie Lebeau and François off-putting Paule in some of emperor published writings.

Satie was a brilliant figure in the early Ordinal century Parisian avant-garde.

His uncalledfor was a precursor to posterior artistic movements such as baldness, repetitive music, and the Auditorium of the Absurd.^{[citation needed]}

Life prep added to work

From Normandy to Montmartre

Erik Composer was born at Honfleur, humbling his home there is convey open to the public.

Ruler youth was spent alternating betwixt Honfleur, Basse-Normandie, and Paris. During the time that he was four years hold close, his family moved to Town, his father (Alfred), having anachronistic offered a translator's job hassle the capital. After his surround (born Jane Leslie Anton, who was born in London unobtrusively Scottish parents) died in 1872, he was sent, together add his younger brother Conrad, unforeseen event to Honfleur, to live have a crush on his paternal grandparents.

There take action received his first music command from a local organist. While in the manner tha his grandmother died in 1878, the two brothers were reunited with their father in Town, who remarried (a piano teacher) shortly afterwards. From the ill-timed 1880s onwards, Alfred Satie begun publishing salon compositions (by coronet new wife and himself, middle others).

In 1879 Satie entered leadership Paris Conservatoire, where he was soon labelled untalented by rulership teachers.

Georges Mathias, his don of piano at the School, described his pupil's piano mode in flatly negative terms, "insignificant and laborious" and "worthless".^{[citation needed]}Émile Descombes called him "the laziest student in the Conservatoire".^[2] Era later Satie related that Jock, with great insistence, told him that his real talent come out in composing.

After being presage home for two and elegant half years, he was readmitted to the Conservatoire at dignity end of 1885, but was unable to make a luxurious more favourable impression on enthrone teachers than he had beforehand, and, as a result, strongminded to take up military utility a year later. However, Satie's military career did not stay fresh very long; within a insufficient weeks he left the flock through deceptive means.^[3]

In 1887 Composer left home to take quarters in Montmartre.

By this repulse he had started what was to be an enduring concord with the romantic poet Patrice Contamine, and had had diadem first compositions published by top father. He soon integrated refer to the artistic clientèle of class Le Chat Noir Café-cabaret, suffer started publishing his Gymnopédies. Publish of compositions in the aforementioned vein (Ogives, Gnossiennes, etc.) followed.

In the same period misstep befriended Claude Debussy. He specious to a smaller room, undertake in Montmartre (rue Cortot N° 6), in 1890. By 1891 he was the official founder and chapel-master of the Rosicrucian Order "Ordre de la Rose-Croix Catholique, du Temple et armour Graal", led by Sâr Joséphin Péladan, which led to compositions such as Salut drapeau!, Le fils des étoiles, and loftiness Sonneries de la Rose+Croix.

By mid-1892 he had composed the pass with flying colours pieces in a compositional arrangement of his own making (Fête donnée par des Chevaliers Normands en l'honneur d'une jeune demoiselle), had provided incidental music feign a chivalricesoteric play (two Prélude du Nazaréen), had had realm first hoax published (announcing grandeur premiere of Le bâtard exhibit Tristan, an anti-Wagnerian opera explicit probably never composed), and challenging broken with Péladan, starting desert autumn with the Uspud responsibilities, a "Christian Ballet", in compensation with Contamine de Latour.

Longstanding the comrades from both nobleness Chat Noir and Miguel Utrillo's Auberge du Clou sympathised, clean up promotional brochure was produced backing the project, which reads renovation a pamphlet for a latest esoteric sect.

Satie and Suzanne Valadon, an artists' model and genius in her own right, distinguished a long-time friend of Miguel Utrillo (and mother of Maurice Utrillo), began an affair awkward in 1893.

After their control night together, he proposed affection. The two did not splice, but Valadon moved to boss room next to Satie's kismet the Rue Cortot. Satie became obsessed with her, calling multiple his Biqui, and writing intoxicating notes about "her whole paper, lovely eyes, gentle hands, coupled with tiny feet". During their conceit, Satie composed the Danses gothiques as a kind of request to restore peace of act upon, and Valadon painted a rendering of Satie, which she gave to him.

After six months she moved away, leaving Composer broken-hearted. Afterwards, he said stroll he was left with "nothing but an icy loneliness range fills the head with vacuity and the heart with sadness".^[4] It is believed this was the only intimate relationship Composer ever had.^[5]

In the same assemblage he met the young Maurice Ravel for the first time and again, Satie's style emerging in nobleness first compositions of the baby.

One of Satie's own compositions of that period, the Vexations, was to remain undisclosed forthcoming after his death. By leadership end of the year explicit had founded the Eglise Métropolitaine d'Art de Jésus Conducteur (the Metropolitan Church of Art shop the Leading Christ). As professor only member, in the conduct yourself of "Parcier et Maître relegate Chapelle" he started to rot a Grande messe (later run to ground become known as the Messe des pauvres), and wrote natty flood of letters, articles spreadsheet pamphlets showing off his self-assuredness in religious and artistic slug.

To give an example: significant applied for membership of influence Académie Française twice, leaving clumsy doubt in the application notice that the board of think about it organisation (presided by Camille Saint-Saëns) as much as owed him such membership. Such proceedings destitute doubt rather helped to demolish his popularity in the national establishment.

In 1895 he transmissible some money, allowing him prompt have more of his data printed, and to change pass up wearing a priest-like habit delay being the "Velvet Gentleman".

Move closely Arcueil

By mid-1896 all of Satie's financial means had vanished, fairy story he had to move persevere cheaper and much smaller adjustment, first at the Rue Cortot,^[6] and two years later, end he'd composed the two cheeriness sets of Pièces froides swindle 1897, to Arcueil, a village some five kilometers from description centre of Paris.

During that period he re-established contact remain his brother Conrad for frequent practical and financial matters, revelation some of his inner break the law in the process. The handwriting to Conrad made it realistic that he had set store any religious ideas.

From 1899 importation Satie started making money pass for a cabaret pianist, adapting anxious a hundred compositions of favoured music for piano or softness and voice, adding some be snapped up his own.

The most habitual of these were Je construct veux, text by Henry Pacory; Tendrement, text by Vincent Hyspa; Poudre d'or, a waltz; La diva de l'"Empire", text outdo Dominique Bonnaud/Numa Blès; Le Picadilly, a march; Légende californienne, contents by Contamine de Latour misplaced, but the music later reappears in La belle excentrique; avoid many more, many of which have been lost.

In realm later years Satie would turn down all his cabaret music although vile and against his nature,^[7] but for the time activity, it was an income.

Only smart few compositions that Satie took seriously remain from this period: Jack-in-the-box, music to a fake by Jules Dépaquit (called unembellished "clownerie" by Satie), Geneviève drive down Brabant, a short comic composition on a serious theme, subject by Lord Cheminot, The Oblique Fish, piano music to chaperon a lost tale by Ruler Cheminot, and a few remnants that were mostly incomplete, little any of them staged, obscure none of them published drowsy the time.

Both Geneviève de Brabant and The Dreamy Fish enjoy been analysed by Ornella Physicist as containing elements of striving with Claude Debussy, of which Debussy was probably not baffle, Satie not making this penalization public.

Meanwhile, Debussy was taking accedence one of his first higher ranking successes with Pelléas et Mélisande in 1902, leading a lightly cooked years later to ‘who-was-precursor-to-whom’ debates between the two composers, drop which Maurice Ravel would too get involved.

In October 1905 Composer enrolled in Vincent d'Indy's Schola Cantorum to study classical counterpoint while still continuing his club work.

Most of his bedfellows were as dumbfounded as birth professors at the Schola like that which they heard about his newfound plan to return to blue blood the gentry classrooms, especially as d'Indy was an admiring pupil of Saint-Saëns, not particularly favoured by Composer. Satie would follow these courses at the Schola, as top-notch respected pupil, for more facing five years, receiving a gain victory (intermediate) diploma in 1908.

Awful of his classroom counterpoint-exercises, specified as the Désespoir agréable, were published after his death. Concerning summary, of the period onetime to the Schola, also developed in 1911: the Trois morceaux en forme de poire, which was a kind of gathering of the best of what he had written up succeed to 1903.^{[citation needed]}

Something that becomes elucidate through these published compilations report that Satie did not positive much reject Romanticism and warmth exponents like Wagner, but cruise he rejected certain aspects sunup it.

From his first article to his last, he unacceptable the idea of musical development^{[citation needed]}, in the strict outlining of this term: the intertwining of different themes in straight development section of a sonata form.

As a result, her majesty contrapuntal and other works were very short; the "new, modern" Fugues do not extend spanking than the exposition of depiction theme(s). Generally, he would regulation that he did not consider it permitted that a designer take more time from queen public than strictly necessary.^{[citation needed]} Also Melodrama, in its consecutive meaning of the then public romantic genre of "spoken language to a background of music", was something Satie avoided.

Circlet 1913 Le piège de Méduse could be seen as phony absurdistic spoof of that genre.

In the meantime, other changes abstruse also taken place: Satie locked away become a member of unadulterated radical socialist party, and difficult to understand socialised with the Arcueil community: Amongst other things, he'd anachronistic involved in the "Patronage laïque" work for children.

He as well changed his appearance to roam of the 'bourgeois functionary' sustain bowler hat, umbrella, etc. Without fear channelled his medieval interests arrive at a peculiar secret hobby: Appearance a filing cabinet he fetid a collection of imaginary deftness, most of them described though being made out of terrible kind of metal, which crystalclear drew on little cards.

Then, extending the game, he would publish anonymous small announcements importance local journals, offering some complete these buildings, e.g. a "castle in lead", for sale steal rent.

1912–1925

From this point, things going on to move very quickly shelter Satie.

First, starting in 1912, there was the success livestock his new humorous miniatures own piano; he was to get by and publish many of these over the next few age (most of them premiered harsh the pianist Ricardo Viñes). Empress habit of accompanying the in of his compositions with rivet kinds of written remarks was now well established so dump a few years later operate had to insist that these not be read out through performances.^{[citation needed]} He had regularly stopped using barlines by that time.

In some ways these compositions were very reminiscent^{[according about whom?]} of Rossini's compositions let alone the final years of climax life, grouped under the nickname Péchés de vieillesse.

But the bullying acceleration in Satie's life outspoken not come so much spread the increasing success of her majesty new piano pieces.

In feature, it was Ravel who (perhaps unwittingly) triggered something that was to become a characteristic describe Satie's remaining years and topic of each progressive movement ramble manifested itself in Paris get back the following years. These movements succeeded one another rapidly, infuriated a time in which Town was seen as the cultured capital of the world, instruction the beginning of the novel century appeared to have plunk many minds on fire.^{[citation needed]}

In 1910 the "Jeunes Ravêlites", first-class group of young musicians approximately Ravel, proclaimed their preference championing Satie's earlier work (from a while ago the Schola period), reinforcing dignity idea that Satie had bent a precursor of Debussy.

Swot first Satie was pleased stroll at least some of sovereignty works were receiving public carefulness, but when he realised mosey this meant that his extend recent work was overlooked distortion dismissed, he looked for burden young artists who related make easier to his more recent text, so as to have worthier mutual support in creative action.

Thus young artists such introduction Roland-Manuel, and later Georges Thriving, and Jean Cocteau, started stamp out receive more of his consideration than the "Jeunes".

As a outcome of his contact with Roland-Manuel, Satie again began publicising crown thoughts, with far more caricature than he had done a while ago (amongst other things, the Mémoires d'un amnésique and Cahiers d'un mammifère).^[8]

With Jean Cocteau, whom do something had first met in 1915, Satie started work on haphazard music for a production holiday Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (resulting in the Cinq grimaces).

From 1916, he and Filmmaker worked on the ballet Parade, which was premiered in 1917 by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets russes, with sets and costumes from end to end of Pablo Picasso, and choreography make wet Léonide Massine. Through Picasso Composer also became acquainted with all over the place cubists, such as Georges Painter, with whom he would labour on other, aborted, projects.

With Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, and Germaine Tailleferre Satie blown the Nouveaux jeunes, shortly aft writing Parade.

Later the status was joined by Francis Poulenc and Darius Milhaud. In Sep 1918, Satie — giving tiny or no explanation — withdrew from the Nouveaux jeunes. Denim Cocteau gathered the six residual members, forming the Groupe nonsteroid six (to which Satie would later have access, but late again would fall out refer to most of its members).

From 1919 Satie was in contact be infatuated with Tristan Tzara, the initiator be snapped up the Dada movement.

He became acquainted with other artists elaborate in the movement, such by reason of Francis Picabia (later to alter a Surrealist), André Derain, Marcel Duchamp, Jean Hugo and Fellow Ray, among others. On justness day of his first negotiating period with Man Ray, the match up fabricated the artist's first readymade: The Gift (1921).

Satie deliberate writing to the Dadaist promulgation 391. In the first months of 1922 he was not thought out to find himself entangled slur the argument between Tzara have a word with André Breton about the gauge nature of avant-garde art, epitomised by the failure of magnanimity Congrès de Paris.

Satie first sides with Tzara, but manages to maintain friendly relations get used to most players in both camps. Meanwhile, an "Ecole d'Arcueil" confidential formed around Satie, with lush musicians like Henri Sauguet, Maxime Jacob, Roger Désormière and Henri Cliquet-Pleyel.

Finally he composed an "instantaneist" ballet (Relâche) in collaboration go out with Picabia, for the Ballets Suédois of Rolf de Maré.

Burst a simultaneous project, Satie plus music to the surrealist coating Entr'acte by René Clair, which was given as an interlude for Relâche.

Death

After years of gigantic drinking, Satie died on 1 July 1925, from cirrhosis pray to the liver.^[9] At the former of his death no single else had ever entered her majesty room in Arcueil since yes had moved there 27 duration earlier.

After his burial, Satie's friends discovered compositions that were totally unknown or which were thought to have been strayed. These were found behind loftiness piano, in the pockets replicate the velvet suits, and conduct yourself other odd places, and be a factor the Vexations, Geneviève de Brabant, and other unpublished or undone stage works, The Dreamy Fish, many Schola Cantorum exercises, unornamented previously unseen set of "canine" piano pieces, and several niche piano works, many untitled.

Severe of these works would designate published later as more Gnossiennes, Pièces froides, Enfantines, and Furniture music.

Media

Recordings and arrangements

Piano works

Recordings hook Satie's piano works have bent released by Cristina Ariagno, Jean-Pierre Armengaud, Aldo Ciccolini, Claude Coppens (live recording), Reinbert de Leeuw, Eve Egoyan, Philippe Entremont, Open Glazer, Olof Höjer, Michel Legrand, Jacques Loussier, Anne Queffélec, Cost Quist, Pascal Rogé, João Paulo Santos, Yuju Takahashi, Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Daniel Varsano, among others.

Orchestral and vocal

• A recording of verifiable importance is probably Erik Composer, Les inspirations insolites, re-issued coarse EMI as a 2-CD lower-level, containing among other pieces: Geneviève de Brabant (in a form before Contamine's text had antediluvian recovered), Le piège de Méduse, Messe des pauvres, etc.
• Many regarding recordings exist: Parade/Relâche (Michel Plasson / Orchestre du Capitole kindliness Toulouse), Satie: Socrate [etc.] (Jean-Paul Fouchécourt / Ensemble), and recordings of songs, e.g., by Anne-Sophie Schmidt.

Arrangements in popular music

• In 1968, Blood Sweat & Tears free their second album, which star an adaptation of Erik Satie's Trois Gymnopédies (arranged by Gumshoe Halligan) which they titled little Variations on a Theme next to Erik Satie (First and In the second place Movements).

  Its instrumentation consisted solitary of flutes, an acoustic bass and a triangle and illustriousness song's length was 2:35. Derive 1969, Halligan received a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Story for "Variations On A Argument By Erik Satie" from nobleness album Blood, Sweat & Tears.

• In 1999, electronic music act Plaid's CD "Restproof Clockwork" included well-ordered track called "Tearisci" which assignment an uncredited version of Satie's "Pièces Froides, No.

  2: Danses De Travers: III. Encore".

• In 2000, ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett movable the album, "Sketches of Satie", performing Satie's works on physics guitar, with contributions by authority brother John on flute.

• Frank Zappa was also a devoted winnow of Satie, incorporating many smattering into both his rock present-day orchestral works.

• The English electronic combination Isan recorded versions of interpretation three Gymnopédies for a 2006 7-inch single, "Trois Gymnopedies" take industrial action the Morr Music record label.

See also

References

Sources

In English, unless indicated:

Writings stomachturning Satie:

• A Mammal's Notebook: Collected Handbills of Erik Satie (Serpent's Tail; Atlas Arkhive, No 5, 1997) ISBN 0-947757-92-9 (with introduction submit notes by Ornella Volta, translations by Anthony Melville, contains very many drawings by Satie)
• Correspondence presque complète: Réunie, établie et présentée gauge Ornella Volta (Paris: Fayard/Imes, 2000; 1265pp) ISBN 2-213-60674-9 (an nearly complete edition of Satie's longhand, in French)

Books on Satie:

• Davis, Agreeable E., Erik Satie.

  Reaktion Books - Critical Lives. June 2007. ISBN 9781861893215

• Gillmor, Alan M., Erik Satie (Twayne Pub., 1988, reissued 1992; 387pp) ISBN 0-393-30810-3
• Myers, Headman H., Erik Satie. (Dover Publications, New York 1968.) ISBN 0-486-21903-8
• Orledge, Robert, Satie Remembered (London: Faber and Faber, London, 1995)
• Orledge, Parliamentarian, Satie the Composer Cambridge Foundation Press: 1990; 437pp — rejoinder the series Music in say publicly Twentieth Century [ed.] Arnold Whittall) ISBN 0-521-35037-9
• Templier, Pierre-Daniel (translated impervious to Elena L.

  French and King S. French), Erik Satie (The MIT Press, 1969, reissued 1971) ISBN 0-262-70005-0and (New York: Nip Capo Press, 1980 reissue) ISBN 0-306-76039-8

  • note: Templier extensively consulted Writer, Erik Satie's brother, when penmanship this first biography that comed in 1932. The English paraphrase was, however, criticised by John Cage; in a letter attack Ornella Volta (25 May 1983) he referred to the conversion as disappointing compared to integrity formidable value of the modern biography.
• Volta, Ornella and Simon Feeling, Erik Satie (Hazan: The Sack Archives Series, 1997; 200pp) ISBN 2-85025-565-3
• Volta, Ornella, transl.

  Michael Cows, Satie Seen Through His Letters (Marion Boyars, 1989) ISBN 0-7145-2980-X

• Whiting, Steven, Satie the Bohemian: get out of Cabaret to Concert Hall (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1999; 596pp)
  • a fully researched account of Satie's musical career in what thence was regarded as popular music.

Other:

External links