Satie's Gymnopedies are what many consider to be the
groundwork for today's ambient music; it's as ignorable
as it is interesting (although, I find it hard to
ignore such great music). These three beautiful pieces
for acoustic piano and flute are calming, reflective,
ethereal, relaxing, soothing, and elegant.
Gymnopedie No. 1 - Lent et douloureux (slow and
mournfully):
With a hollow, but eerily warm melody gently floating
atop an accompaniment of steady short-long rhythms,
Gymn...(+)
Satie's Gymnopedies are what many consider to be the
groundwork for today's ambient music; it's as ignorable
as it is interesting (although, I find it hard to
ignore such great music). These three beautiful pieces
for acoustic piano and flute are calming, reflective,
ethereal, relaxing, soothing, and elegant.
Gymnopedie No. 1 - Lent et douloureux (slow and
mournfully):
With a hollow, but eerily warm melody gently floating
atop an accompaniment of steady short-long rhythms,
Gymnopedie No. 1 is as expressive as it is transparent.
Its simplicity and openness masterfully disguises its
apparent dissonances.
Gymnopedie No. 2 - Lent et triste (slow and sad):
Gymnopedie No. 2, although sharing the same short-long
accompaniment in the left hand, the mood of this piece
is entirely different from No. 1 and 3. Its lack of a
commitment to a steady key leads the melody on a
nebulous path wandering aimlessly through a series of
chords.
Gymnopedie No. 3 - Lent et grave (slowly and
solemnly):
Similar in melodic structure, Gymnopedie No. 3 is a
minor key version of Gymnopedie No. 1. Its
hypnotic-like accompaniment leads the listener in an
almost out of body experience. If played as it is
intended, the texture of this piece is as smooth as
silk.
Although originally composed for Piano, I created this
transcription for Viola and Concert (Pedal) Harp.
SHEET MUSIC