Music and Vinyl: Satie

Erik Satie (1866-1925) was a French composer - though he didn't describe himself as such preferring the term “phonometrographer”, described thus in "Memoirs of an Amnesiac" of 1912:

“Everyone will tell you that I am not a musician. That is correct. From the very beginning of my career, I classed myself as a phonometrographer. My work is completely phonometrical. Take my Fils des Etoiles, or my Morceaux en Forme d’une Poire, my En Habit de Cheval, or my Sarabandes — it is evident that musical ideas played no part whatsoever in their composition. Science is the dominating factor…I think I can say that phonology is superior to music. There’s more variety to it. The financial return is greater, too, I owe my fortune to it. At all events, with a motodynaphone, even a rather inexperienced phonometrologist can easily note down more sounds than the most skilled musician in the same time, using the same amount of effort. This is how I have been able to write so much. And so the future lies with phonometrology.”

To say that Satie was eccentric is rather an understatement. He founded his own religion - actually a sect of occultism called Église Métropolitaine d’Art de Jésus Conducteur. He had a short spell in prison charged with "cultural anarchy" after a performance of the ballet Parade in 1917. He had a very strange diet (as described in the 1912 Memoirs):

“My only nourishment consists of food that is white: eggs, sugar, shredded bones, the fat of dead animals, veal, salt, coconuts, chicken cooked in white water, moldy fruit, rice, turnips, sausages in camphor, pastry, cheese (white varieties), cotton salad, and certain kinds of fish (without their skin). I boil my wine and drink it cold mixed with the juice of the Fuchsia. I have a good appetite, but never talk when eating for fear of strangling myself.”

He described his routine in these terms:

“I rise at 7:18; am inspired from 10:23 to 11:47. I lunch at 12:11 and leave the table at 12:14. A healthy ride on horse-back round my domain follows from 1:19 pm to 2:53 pm. Another bout of inspiration from 3:12 to 4:07 pm. From 4:27 to 6:47 pm various occupations (fencing, reflection, immobility, visits, contemplation, dexterity, natation, etc.)”

“Dinner is served at 7:16 and finished at 7:20 pm. From 8:09 to 9:59 pm symphonic readings (out loud). I go to bed regularly at 10:37 pm. Once a week, I wake up with a start at 3:19 (Tuesdays).”

“I breathe with care (a little at a time). I very rarely dance. When walking, I clasp my sides, and look steadily behind me.”

“My expression is very serious; when I laugh it is unintentional, and I always apologize most affably.”

“I sleep with only one eye closed, very profoundly. My bed is round, with a hole to put my head through. Once every hour a servant takes my temperature and gives me another.”

“I have subscribed for some time to a fashion magazine. I wear a white cap, white stockings, and a white waistcoat.”

“My doctor has always told me to smoke. Part of his advice runs: ‘Smoke away, dear chap; if you don’t someone else will.'”

This piece looks at Satie's life and influence.

Frank Glazer's collection of Satie's piano music - the album here is the first volume - includes two short collections by which Satie is undoubtedly best known - the Trois Gymnopédies and Trois Gnossiennes. Music from the pieces have been used extensively in film and TV and been covered in one way or another by modern artists. So though only a minor figure in French musical life during his lifetime his music (or a very few compositions at least) has had a more widespread impact than many of his contemporaries.