Today has the been first really rainy day of Spring. Quiet evening with the window open, i have been working on an arrangement of Erik Satie's first Gymnopedie for guitar.Satie coined the term Furniture Music, in 1917; music intended as background listening for particular situations or events, like intermission at a play, or in the foyer as guests arrived, a forerunner to Eno's Discreet Music, and ambient music in general. His music is slight, gentle; like a presence in the room, piano notes suspended in the air like dust motes on a sunny afternoon. Its like a room itself; spacious, standing still, inviting you to explore. It is graceful and delicate, it colors the air like lilac perfume. It is the anti-Wagner, forsaking bombast and heroics for heart and soul, subtle mystery.
As i write this, Trois Gnossienes is playing, mingling with the sound of raindrops on fresh leaves. Could be a commercial for some hokey 'Gentle Sounds of Nature' cd, except when turned up, brought into the foreground, there is a heart beating in these pieces. Passion, tenderness, wonder, curiosity, playfulness; its not muzak. Its just made to exist, to come and go as you please. Not tyrannical. A partner. A friend. A world. A worldview. Highly recommended for quiet evenings at home, with the windows open.
Piano Works 1
Piano Works 2
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thx for this!
ReplyDeletetop quality!
Thanks for this wonderful music. Works very well in the Oregon rain. All the best,
ReplyDeleteIggy
whoa. forest grove. i lived in that town, for a time. Didn't have the pleasure of experiencing an oregon winter. Hear their quite lovely, tho, as long as you like crying and cutting yrself. I would love to get back up to the NW. I'll buy a damn light box and a carton of vitamin D supplements. Satie does work tremendously well with the rain, its almost elemental. I've got quite a bit more of that ilk, if you are interested i could post up. I also recommend check out Owl Splinters, new album by Deaf Center that i posted this month, as its beautifully contemplative as well.
ReplyDeletethanks for dropping by.