Erik Satie

Satie lived by his own secret rules. He created an elaborate religion, posted space for let ads in the paper for imaginary castles, developed refined gothic penmanship, wore identical velvet suits every day. He was “born very young in a very old world.” If you get the chance look at his musical scores because they have hidden messages for the performer. I find his first works best and most authentic. Later his music got more compromised to pay the bills. You can listen to his cabaret songs to appreciate how he suffered in life, being often broke and at once point evicted from his cramped Montmartre studio and forced to move to Arcueil.

Imagine him on his long walks (he walked everywhere) under lamplight watching the world and judging it by his internal rules. The works are often built in threes, and are designed to view the same musical material from three angles. Many of the song titles are absurd. Satie took refuge in irony and did not like to reveal his real emotions.

The music does reveal them, however, in a precise, odd, inspired, absolutely unique voice. His compositions might seem infantile to virtuosic performers and people with conventional minds, and Satie even took pains later in life to learn traditional composition at the Schola Cantorum. It simply didn’t suit him. He played what he played and wrote what he wrote, and thankfully kept true to himself.

Ogives (1886) . Ascetic and stern. I eat this stuff up. youtube

. Ascetic and stern. I eat this stuff up. youtube Trois Sarabandes (1887) . Notice the lack of musical development. The melodies are fragments in a typical Satie dreamworld. youtube

. Notice the lack of musical development. The melodies are fragments in a typical Satie dreamworld. youtube Trois Gymnopédies (1888) . ★ This is Satie, this is what he sounds like, the perfect little tuning fork of his soul. youtube

. ★ This is Satie, this is what he sounds like, the perfect little tuning fork of his soul. youtube Gnossiennes (1889-97) . A mystical-contemplative dance. Later pieces have an elegant eccentricity. youtube

. A mystical-contemplative dance. Later pieces have an elegant eccentricity. youtube Le Fils des étoiles (1891) . Dense, dry, tintinnabular. youtube

. Dense, dry, tintinnabular. youtube Trois Sonneries de la Rose†Croix (1892). Music for his mystic order, structured around the golden ratio. youtube

Music for his mystic order, structured around the golden ratio. youtube Uspud (1892) . A “Christian ballet” with dark ritualistic undertones. youtube

. A “Christian ballet” with dark ritualistic undertones. youtube Danses Gothiques (1893) . Static eerie dances. youtube

. Static eerie dances. youtube Vexations (1893) . He lost his love, a vivacious painter named Suzanne Valadon. He wrote her for thirty years thereafter but she never came back. This is his song about it. youtube

. He lost his love, a vivacious painter named Suzanne Valadon. He wrote her for thirty years thereafter but she never came back. This is his song about it. youtube Dans de travers, No. 2 (1897) . Patterns unfurl. youtube

. Patterns unfurl. youtube Arrière-propos (1912) . Like a jazzier Fils des étoiles.

. Like a jazzier Fils des étoiles. Préludes flasques pour un chien (1912) . Sedate and gnomish. youtube funny synth remix

. Sedate and gnomish. youtube funny synth remix Croquis et agaceries d’un gros bonhomme en bois (1913) . Oddball waltz. youtube

. Oddball waltz. youtube Descriptions automatiques (1913) . The first piece is like a tender soliloquy. youtube

. The first piece is like a tender soliloquy. youtube Avant-dernières pensées (1915) . ★ Mesmerizing ostinato. The score has a weird little story inside. What does it mean? youtube

. ★ Mesmerizing ostinato. The score has a weird little story inside. What does it mean? youtube Sonatine bureaucratique (1917) . Balanced and self-assured. youtube

. Balanced and self-assured. youtube Carnet d’Esquisses et de Croquis (1919) . Delightfully deranged ditties.

. Delightfully deranged ditties. Nocturnes (1919).★ Haunting. youtube

Federico Mompou

Listening to Mompou is like discovering a secret attic you never thought existed. It’s full of mysterious shapes covered in fabric and dusty pictures in tasteful frames. The attic stairs behind you seem to stretch far away now, down into that impossible world of modern times. Or have you been up here all along and have yet to explore the world outside?

Pressebres (1917) . Folksy and out of kilter. youtube

. Folksy and out of kilter. youtube Scènes d’Enfants (1918) . Expansive and sunny. youtube

. Expansive and sunny. youtube Trois Variations (1921) . Variations on a pure little melody. youtube, now watch the patterns: youtube

. Variations on a pure little melody. youtube, now watch the patterns: youtube Charmes (1921) .★ Magical sleepwalking. youtube

.★ Magical sleepwalking. youtube Paisajes (1960) . Follow the secret footpath. youtube

. Follow the secret footpath. youtube Musica Callada (1959, 1962, 1965, 1967). ★ Written in four books. Inspired by the the mystic poet St. John of the Cross’ who wrote about, “La Música Callada, la Soledad Sonora” or “the silent music, the murmuring of solitude.” youtube

Claude Debussy

Debussy, the impressionist’s impressionist, master of lush webs of sound and of subtle orchestration. His music loses itself in a scintillating haze of colors and associations. It ushered in a freedom of composition and nuance lacking in the Germanic romanticism preceding it. As Satie remarked, “I explained to Debussy that a Frenchman had to free himself from the Wagnerian adventure, which wasn’t the answer to our national aspirations. I also pointed out that I was in no way anti-Wagnerian, but that we should have a music of our own – if possible, without any Sauerkraut.”

Here’s a funny video that explains more about this musical transition.

Beau Soir (1879) . Velvety. youtube

. Velvety. youtube Salut printemps (1882) . Composed for the Prix de Rome scholarship competition. Breezy, elegant, slightly pentatonic. youtube

. Composed for the Prix de Rome scholarship competition. Breezy, elegant, slightly pentatonic. youtube Printemps, Suite symphonique (1887) . richly orchestrated youtube

. richly orchestrated youtube Deux Arabesques (1888) . Charming and feminine youtube

. Charming and feminine youtube Suite bergamasque (1890, published 1905) . Overplayed easy listening, but why not? It’s graceful and good. youtube

. Overplayed easy listening, but why not? It’s graceful and good. youtube String Quartet in G minor (1893) . Memorable and lively. youtube

. Memorable and lively. youtube Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (1894) . ★ Languorous, kaleidoscopic youtube

. ★ Languorous, kaleidoscopic youtube Nocturnes (1899) . ★ Sumptuous strings and a luminous choir. youtube

. ★ Sumptuous strings and a luminous choir. youtube Danse sacrée et Danse profane (1903) . A shimmering harp piece that contrasts the love of the spiritual and the natural. youtube

. A shimmering harp piece that contrasts the love of the spiritual and the natural. youtube La Mer (1905) . Subtle orchestration evoking a rather literary depiction of the sea. youtube

. Subtle orchestration evoking a rather literary depiction of the sea. youtube Images pour piano, Deuxième Série (1907) . Ringing and chatty. youtube

. Ringing and chatty. youtube Preludes book 1 (1910)

“Footprints in the Snow.” ★ Cold, delicate and resigned. Only the footprints remain, the person is never coming back. youtube

“The girl with the flaxen hair.” ★ An intimate gold-tinted memory. youtube

“The submerged cathedral.” A contemplative otherworldly dive. youtube

Première rhapsodie for clarinet and orchestra (1910) . Meandering songbird-like piece. youtube

. Meandering songbird-like piece. youtube Douze Études, book 1 (1915) . Hard-to-play studies in chords built of different intervals.

. Hard-to-play studies in chords built of different intervals. Étude 4, pour les sixtes. Like distinguished but tarnished jewelry. youtube

Page D’Album (1915) . Smooth and clear. The left hand reminds me a little of Satie’s Gymnopédies. youtube

. Smooth and clear. The left hand reminds me a little of Satie’s Gymnopédies. youtube Sonate pour flûte, alto et harpe (1915) . Melancholy, somewhat senile wandering. youtube

. Melancholy, somewhat senile wandering. youtube Sonate pour violoncelle et piano (1915). A dextrous and sinewy duet. Delightful! youtube

Toru Takemitsu

Takemitsu started out writing film scores and making experimental electronic music. As he became better known he combined traditional eastern sounds and melodies with the western avant garde. The result is rich orchestral haiku. He ranges from jazzy pop tunes to eerie alien soundscapes with plenty of good stuff in between.

Clouds at Sunset (1967) . Lounge music with a Harpsichord! youtube

. Lounge music with a Harpsichord! youtube A Secret Post-Tokyo War Story Soundtrack (1970) . Hippy bongos and vibraphone. youtube

. Hippy bongos and vibraphone. youtube Les Fils des Etoiles (1975) . Satie remix.

. Satie remix. Ballad of Orin Soundtrack (1977) . Eerie and imaginative

. Eerie and imaginative In an Autumn Garden (1979) . Beautiful intense droning. youtube

. Beautiful intense droning. youtube Rain Tree (1982) . Translucent and mystical. youtube

. Translucent and mystical. youtube I Hear the Water Dreaming (1987) . Ambiguously restless. youtube

. Ambiguously restless. youtube Rikyu Soundtrack (1991). Fascinating mix of baroque melodies and anxious strings. youtube

Bohuslav Martinů

Martinů is the shephard tone of composers. Listening to his stuff feels like climbing a mountain, it gets increasingly hectic and then makes a sudden “switch” to expose a broad vista at the top. Then it starts climbing again and you realize you haven’t reached the real peak.

That said, he does use a certain musical gesture compulsively. I’m fond of it but once you listen to a few songs you’ll know what I mean. Enough talking, get ready to be dazzled by an inventive and overlooked composer.

Three Czech Dances (1926) . Frenetic, almost like a player-piano score. youtube

. Frenetic, almost like a player-piano score. youtube The Butterfly that Stamped (1926) . Fluid and percussive, awash in combinations. Starts a little slowly. youtube

. Fluid and percussive, awash in combinations. Starts a little slowly. youtube La Revue de Cuisine (1927) . ★ Fresh and irregular. youtube

. ★ Fresh and irregular. youtube Suite Miniature: Seven Easy Pieces for Cello and Piano (1931) . Tight, balanced duet. youtube

. Tight, balanced duet. youtube Les Ritournelles (1932) . Nervous and cerebral. youtube

. Nervous and cerebral. youtube Julietta, moderato (1937) . Quiet and kind of mind-bending. youtube

. Quiet and kind of mind-bending. youtube Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano (1939) . Lively, with the surprising twists characteristic of Martinů’s mature style. youtube

. Lively, with the surprising twists characteristic of Martinů’s mature style. youtube Sinfonietta Giocosa, first movement (1940) ★ Soaring. youtube

★ Soaring. youtube Dumka No. 3 (1941) . Matter-of-fact.

. Matter-of-fact. Piano Quartet (1942) . ★ Rolling, boisterous. youtube

. ★ Rolling, boisterous. youtube Symphony No. 1 (1942) . Spacious and majestic. youtube

. Spacious and majestic. youtube Fantasia for Theremin with Oboe, String Quartet and Piano (1944) . ★ Spectral melodies with exciting piano/string accompaniment. youtube (pitchy recording)

. ★ Spectral melodies with exciting piano/string accompaniment. youtube (pitchy recording) Etudes and Polkas (1945) . A river of whirling sounds. youtube

. A river of whirling sounds. youtube Toccata e Due Canzoni (1946) . Stormy and suspenseful. youtube

. Stormy and suspenseful. youtube Rhapsody Concerto for Viola and Orchestra (1952) . Full and passionate. youtube

. Full and passionate. youtube Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano (1952) . Twisting topsy-turvy. youtube

. Twisting topsy-turvy. youtube Oboe Concerto (1955) . Buoyant. youtube

. Buoyant. youtube Chamber Music No 1, second movement (1959) . A touch of almost Copland. youtube

. A touch of almost Copland. youtube Nonet No 2 (1959). Charming neoclassical work, written as a goodbye on his deathbead. youtube

Francis Poulenc

Aptly described as “half monk, half rascal,” Poulenc wrote music that is genial, suave, and funny. He kept his style melodic and accessible at a time when music was being vigorously “advanced.” While some people of the era thought it frivolous, you and I can smile and enjoy a good song when we hear it.

Trois mouvements perpétuels (1918) . Like a little revolving machine. youtube

. Like a little revolving machine. youtube Novelette No. 1 (1927) . ★ Warm, expansive and somehow heartbreaking. youtube

. ★ Warm, expansive and somehow heartbreaking. youtube Suite française, 2nd mvmt (1935) . (specificially Bransle de Champagne) Medieval harmonies. youtube

. (specificially Bransle de Champagne) Medieval harmonies. youtube Nocturnes (1938) . ★ Especially the creepy no 4, Bal fantôme: “Not a note of the waltzes and schottisches was lost throughout the house, and as a result the sick man was able to take his part in the festivities, and on his bed of pain could dream of the happy times of his youth.” pt 1, pt 2

. ★ Especially the creepy no 4, Bal fantôme: “Not a note of the waltzes and schottisches was lost throughout the house, and as a result the sick man was able to take his part in the festivities, and on his bed of pain could dream of the happy times of his youth.” pt 1, pt 2 Orchestration of Gnossienne No.3 (1939) . Originally by Satie, of course. youtube

. Originally by Satie, of course. youtube Française (1939) . Playing with the theme in Bransle de Champagne of four years prior. youtube

. Playing with the theme in Bransle de Champagne of four years prior. youtube Les animaux modèles (1941) . Thickly textured, youtube

. Thickly textured, youtube Intermezzo in A♭ (1943) . Loquacious. youtube

. Loquacious. youtube Sonata for Piano and Cello (1948) . pt 1, pt 2

. pt 1, pt 2 Piano Concerto (1950). ★ Brilliant and suspenseful. youtube

Igor Stravinsky

I first heard his Rite of Spring and was eager to hear the rest of his works. I imagined more wild and savage ear battles, but I was surprised to learn that the Rite is unique. His other songs form a neat little garden of neoclassical topiary, often with saucy instrumental combinations and some fiery piano arrangements thrown in for good measure.

Pastorale (1907) . ★ Mesmerizing. youtube

. ★ Mesmerizing. youtube Rite of Spring (1913) . ★ Primitive and strident. orchestral, piano duet

. ★ Primitive and strident. orchestral, piano duet Ragtime for Eleven Instruments (1918) . Like an hillbilly circus. youtube

. Like an hillbilly circus. youtube Concertino for String Quartet (1920) . Ornery. youtube

. Ornery. youtube Pulcinella Suite (1922) . A brisk classical composition. youtube

. A brisk classical composition. youtube Prélude et ronde des princesses (1929) . Lithe but suspicious. youtube

. Lithe but suspicious. youtube Petrouschka (1932) . Hands are flying off the piano. youtube

. Hands are flying off the piano. youtube Suite italienne (1932) . It’s Pulcinella take two, 10 years later. youtube

. It’s Pulcinella take two, 10 years later. youtube Ebony Concerto (1945) . Jazzy. youtube

. Jazzy. youtube Cantata on Medieval English Verses (1952) . ★ Fascinating melodies. I find them hard to describe. youtube

. ★ Fascinating melodies. I find them hard to describe. youtube Concertino for Twelve Instruments (1952) . An arrangement of the quartet from 1920. youtube

. An arrangement of the quartet from 1920. youtube Tango (1953) . With verve. youtube

. With verve. youtube Greeting Prelude (1955). The most epic version of Happy Birthday ever made. youtube

Emmanuel Chabrier

Much of his early piano music is jaunty, almost ragtime sounding. He surpassed that old-timey style however and created some original and beautiful works. They have a repetitive lilt, like turning a page in a book and finding something brilliant on the other side.

Larghetto for Horn and Orchestra (1875) . It’s starting to get interesting, including the horn arrangement. youtube

. It’s starting to get interesting, including the horn arrangement. youtube Pièces pittoresques (1881) ★ A sparkling invention. youtube

★ A sparkling invention. youtube Suite pastorale (1888) ★ An orchestration of some of the above Pièces. Slower, richer, more amazing. youtube

Alfredo Casella

Casella sought to move Italian music beyond its operatic rut and onto the international scene. He studied in Paris and wrote brisk neoclassical music that often sounds to me like it’s encircling or twining around a theme.

Barcarolle et scherzo (1903) . Fanciful. youtube

. Fanciful. youtube Sonata in C minor (1907) . Repetitive but stylish. part1 part2 part3

. Repetitive but stylish. part1 part2 part3 Sicilienne et Burlesque (1914) . Fragile. youtube

. Fragile. youtube A notte alta (1917) . Dismal and oriental. part1 part2

. Dismal and oriental. part1 part2 Concerto per Archi (1924) . Strong. youtube

. Strong. youtube Menuet de la Scarlattiana (1926) . Simple and happy. youtube

. Simple and happy. youtube Serenata op.46b, 3rd movement (1930) . Sentimental. youtube

. Sentimental. youtube Sonata da G.B. Sammartini (1934) . Finely wrought baroque. youtube

. Finely wrought baroque. youtube Concerto for Piano, Strings, Timpani, and Percussion (1943). Mediterranean and passionate. part1 part2 part3

To be continued…

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