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Humourist

Satie goes back to school and reaches his full orchestral powers.

Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotations – were a revolution, paving the way for a new generation of musical rebels, including Les Six. He was just as odd in his day-to-day life, known for his quirky fashion and dramatic outbursts, he always kept a hammer in his pocket for fear of muggers and once even founded his own church.

In this episode, Satie gets sick of being called a farceur and resolves to go back to school, against the protestations of his friend Debussy. Finally reaching his full orchestral powers, he pens a surreal cycle inspired by sports and "amusements".

Pièces froides
Klára Körmendi, piano

Je te veux
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Juliette Noureddine, voice

La Diva de l’Empire
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Juliette Noureddine, voice

Trois morceaux en forme de poire
Alain Planès and François Pinel, piano

En habit de cheval
Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, conducted by Michel Plasson

Sports et divertissements
Anne Queffélec, piano

Produced by Alice McKee for ѿý Audio Wales & West

Release date:

59 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 16:00

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