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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

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Erik Satie

    Pieces froides

    Performer: Klára Körmendi.
    • NAXOS : 8.572132.
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.
  • Erik Satie

    Je te veux

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud.
    • Harmonia Mundi HMC 902017.18.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 8.
  • Erik Satie

    Chez de Docteur

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Singer: Juliette.
    • Harmonia Mundi HMC 902017.18.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.
  • Erik Satie

    J'avais un ami

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Singer: Juliette.
    • Harmonia Mundi HMC 902017.18.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 10.
  • Erik Satie

    La Diva de l'Empire

    Performer: Alexandre Tharaud. Singer: Juliette.
    • Harmonia Mundi HMC 902017.18.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 11.
  • Erik Satie

    Trois morceaux en forme de poire

    Performer: Alain Planès. Performer: François Pinel.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMM 902749.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 11.
  • Erik Satie

    En Habit de Cheval

    Orchestra: Toulouse Capitole Orchestra. Conductor: Michel Plasson.
    • ERATO : 9029598879.
    • ERATO.
    • 113.
  • Erik Satie

    Sports et divertissements

    Performer: Anne Queffélec.
    • ERATO : 9029554278.
    • ERATO.
    • 33.

Broadcast

  • Wed 2 Jul 2025 16:00

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