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 solo piano 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...(+)
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 solo piano 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.
SHEET MUSIC