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 expr...(+)
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):
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
arrangement of the 3 Gymnopédies for String Quintet (2
Violins, Viola, Cello & Bass).
SHEET MUSIC