Monsieur Le Pauvre
Donald Macleod explores Satie's 'mystic' period of the 1890s. Including the infamous Vexations, a short piece that the pianist is instructed to repeat 840 times.
In the 1890s, Satie reinvented himself as a holy man - a self-imposed outcast from the 'wicked' musical establishment. After a brief spell as the composer for a Christian cult, he set up his own church, studied mystical volumes in Paris's National Library, and penned vitriolic articles in his own magazine (average circulation: 1).
Donald Macleod introduces the music of this 'mystic' period, including the infamous Vexations - a short piece which the pianist is apparently instructed to repeat 840 times - and the rare, almost Zen-like ballet Uspud.
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Music Played
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Erik Satie
Vexations (1893) [excerpt)
Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
- DECCA 4736202 - Disc 2,.
- 23.
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Erik Satie
Bonjour, Biqui, Bonjour!
Performer: Robert Young (voice + piano)
- BBC Recording.
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Erik Satie
Uspud: III. Acte (1892)
Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
- DECCA 4736202 - Disc 5,.
- 6.
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Erik Satie
Messe Des Pauvres (1895) [excerpts]
Performer: Gaston Litaize (organ) Performer: Choeur René Duclos / Pierre Dervaux
- EMI - CZS7628772 - Disc 1,.
- 7 & 8.
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Erik Satie
Pieces Froides - Danses De Travers (II)
Performer: Steve Hackett (guitar)
- INSIDE OUT IOMACD4024.
- 9.
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Erik Satie
Je Te Veux (arr. Tonika Ishinose)
Performer: Yoshikazu Mera (countertenor) Performer: Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
- BIS 949.
- 9.
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Erik Satie
Geneviève de Brabant (orch. Desormière) (excerpts) (1899)
Performer: Mady Mesplé (Genevieve, soprano) Performer: Jean-Christophe Benoit (Golo, tenor) Performer: Choeurs du Theatre Nationale de l'Opera de Paris, Paris Orchestra / Pierre Dervaux
- EMI CZS7628772 - Disc 2,.
- 3.
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Erik Satie
Trois Morceaux En Forme De Poire (1903)
Performer: Klára Körmendi, Gábor Eckhardt (pianos)
- NAXOS 8550699.
- 9.
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Erik Satie
Lost In Satie
Performer: Mount Florida
- MATADOR OLE3992.
- 1.
Broadcasts
- Tue 10 Nov 200912:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 10 Nov 200922:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 7 Jun 201112:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 7 Jun 201118:30BBC Radio 3
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