Le Maitre

Synopsis

Donald Macleod concludes his exploration of the life and work of Erik Satie, concentrating on the composer's momentous last decade.

By the early 1920s, Satie was the toast of Paris. Having been spotted by the legendary impresario Jean Cocteau, he found himself working with the likes of Picasso and hailed by a new generation as 'the Prince Of Musicians'. The composer had also invented 'furniture music' - designed to work unnoticed as interior decoration, a little like modern Muzak.

Featuring two rare fanfares for trumpet and a song written in memory of Satie's greatest friend and colleague Claude Debussy. Plus the remarkable Entr'acte cinematographique, the first ever film music to be written frame-by-frame and a startling precursor of minimalism.

Musique d'ameublement No 3: Carrelage Phonique
Ensemble Erwartung
Bernard Desgraupes (conductor)
FNAC 592292 Tr 34

Louis Durey: Hommage a Erik Satie
Francois Le Roux (baritone)
Graham Johnson (piano)
HYPERION CDA67257 Tr 1

Sonnerie pour reveiller le bon gros roi des singes (lequel ne dort toujours que d'un oeil) - 1921
Richard Giangiulio, Bert Traux (trumpets)
CRYSTAL CRR230 Tr 10

La statue retrouvee (1923)
Hakan Hardenberger (trumpet)
Simon Preston (organ)
BIS BISSACD109 Tr 6

Six Nocturnes (1919)
Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)
DECCA 4736202, CD 3 Trs 44-49

Trois petits pieces montees (1919): De L'enfance de Pantagruel - reverie; Marche de Cocagne - demarche; Jeux de Gargantua - coin de polka
Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
Yutaka Sado (conductor)
ERATO 8573858272 Trs 18-20

Quatre Petites Melodies (1920): Elegie; Danseuse; Chanson a Boire; Adieu
Anne-Sophie Schmidt (soprano)
Jean-Pierre Armengaud (piano)
HARMONIA MUNDI HMCD90 Trs 25-28

Entr'acte cinematographique (Relache) (1924)
Ars Nova Ensemble
ERATO STU71336 Tr 1.

Tracklist

Timings are shown from the start of the programme in hours and minutes.

1. --:--

   Erik Satie — Musique d'ameublement No 3: Carrelage Phonique

   Performer: Ensemble Erwartung
   Performer: Bernard Desgraupes (conductor)

   FNAC 592292, Tr 34
2. --:--

   Erik Satie — Louis Durey: Hommage a Erik Satie

   Performer: Francois Le Roux (baritone)
   Performer: Graham Johnson (piano)

   HYPERION CDA67257, Tr 1
3. --:--

   Erik Satie — Sonnerie pour reveiller le bon gros roi des singes (lequel ne dort toujours que d'un oeil) - 1921

   Performer: Richard Giangiulio, Bert Traux (trumpets)

   CRYSTAL CRR230 Tr 10, Tr 10
4. --:--

   Erik Satie — La statue retrouvee (1923)

   Performer: Hakan Hardenberger (trumpet)
   Performer: Simon Preston (organ)

   BIS BISSACD109, Tr 6
5. --:--

   Erik Satie — Six Nocturnes (1919)

   Performer: Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano)

   DECCA 4736202, CD3 Trs 44-49
6. --:--

   Erik Satie — Trois petits pieces montees (1919): De L'enfance de Pantagruel - reverie; Marche de Cocagne - demarche; Jeux de Gargantua - coin de polka

   Performer: Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
   Performer: Yutaka Sado (conductor)

   ERATO 8573858272, Trs18-20
7. --:--

   Erik Satie — Quatre Petites Melodies (1920): Elegie; Danseuse; Chanson a Boire; Adieu

   Performer: Anne-Sophie Schmidt (soprano)
   Performer: Jean-Pierre Armengaud (piano)

   HARMONIA MUNDI HMCD90, Trs 25-28
8. --:--

   Erik Satie — Entr'acte cinematographique (Relache) (1924)

   Performer: Ars Nova Ensemble

   ERATO STU71336, Tr 1

Broadcasts

1. Fri 13 Nov 2009
   12:00
   BBC Radio 3
2. Fri 13 Nov 2009
   21:15
   BBC Radio 3