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Erik Satie's Trois Morceaux: Form, Humor, and Legacy

An exploration of Erik Satie's enigmatic 1903 suite for piano four hands, delving into its composition, unique title, musical characteristics, and cultural impact.

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Introduction

A Lyrical Compendium

Trois Morceaux en forme de poire (Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear) is a suite for piano four hands composed by the French master Erik Satie in 1903. It stands as a lyrical compendium of his early musical explorations and remains one of his most recognized compositions, second only in popular acclaim to his Gymnopรฉdies.

Publication and Performance

Although composed in 1903, the score was not published until 1911. In performance, the suite typically lasts around 14 minutes. Its unique structure, comprising seven distinct pieces rather than the titular three, is characteristic of Satie's penchant for playful subversion.

The Enigmatic Title

The title itself, en forme de poire (in the shape of a pear), is a deliberate piece of Satie's characteristic wit. In French slang of the era, "poire" could refer to a fool or simpleton, and its use here has been interpreted as a subtle, perhaps self-deprecating, commentary on musical form or even a playful jab at contemporaries.

Background and Inspiration

A Period of Creative Reassessment

Satie composed the Trois Morceaux in Paris between August and November 1903. This period followed a significant creative impasse, during which he felt disillusioned with his cabaret music and had abandoned more ambitious projects. The groundbreaking opera Pellรฉas et Mรฉlisande by Claude Debussy also profoundly impacted Satie, leading him to question his current artistic direction and seek new avenues of expression.

The "Pear" Anecdote

Legend suggests the suite was Satie's response to Debussy's advice to "pay more attention to form." Satie purportedly retorted that the pieces were "in the shape of a pear" precisely to preempt criticism of shapelessness. While the veracity of this specific anecdote is debated, the title undeniably reflects Satie's fascination with puns and ironic ambiguity. The term "poire" also served as slang for a spinning top, perhaps alluding to the repetitive nature of some musical passages.

Recycling and Reinvention

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Satie often repurposed earlier musical material. The Trois Morceaux largely draws from his existing works, with only the central "Morceau I" being entirely new. The surrounding pieces, framed by Satie's characteristically whimsical headings, spoof academic musical instruction, a system he had disdained during his own studies.

Musical Structure and Style

Seven Pieces, One Suite

Despite its title, the suite comprises seven distinct movements, each with a unique heading that playfully comments on its character or origin:

  • 1. Maniรจre de commencement (A Way of Beginning): Based on an unpublished Gnossienne from Satie's incidental music for Pรฉladan's play Le Fils des รฉtoiles (1892).
  • 2. Prolongation du mรชme (More of the Same): A march derived from an unfinished cabaret song, Le Roi soleil de plomb (c. 1900).
  • 3. Morceau I (Piece I): The only entirely new composition, recalling Satie's "esoteric" style but harmonically aligned with his later parody songs.
  • 4. Morceau II (Piece II): An energetic march and trio, incorporating material from cabaret songs like Impรฉrial-Napolรฉon (1901).
  • 5. Morceau III (Piece III): Features a striking, newly composed introduction, followed by a central section evoking the style of Piรจces froides (1897).
  • 6. En plus (What's More): A direct transcription of Satie's chamber ensemble piece Danse (1890).
  • 7. Redite (Rehash): Utilizes material from the abandoned Le Bล“uf Angora (c. 1901) and alludes to popular waltzes like Je te veux.

A Retrospective Palette

The Trois Morceaux serves as an unorthodox retrospective of Satie's stylistic evolution. It weaves together elements from his "Chat Noir" cabaret period, his "Rosicrucian" phase, and his engagement with popular music. While often imbued with a sense of melancholy, the music is generally tuneful, accessible, and frequently lively, punctuated by Satie's signature disruptive harmonies.

Publication and Early Reception

Emergence into the Public Eye

Following Satie's "rediscovery" by figures like Maurice Ravel, the Trois Morceaux was published in 1911 by Rouart, Lerolle & Cie. This marked its entry into the Parisian musical scene, often performed in salons and private gatherings, serving as a "musical calling card" for the composer.

Notable Early Performances

Early performances included Ravel and Florent Schmitt at Valentine de Saint-Point's studio (1912), and the young Georges Auric at a Parisian gathering (1914). A significant event was the "Satie-Ravel Festival" at the Salle Huyghens (1916), where Satie himself performed the work. Despite its popularity, Satie later expressed weariness with the pieces, calling them "boring" and "bullshit."

Influence on Ballet

The suite's unique character caught the attention of Jean Cocteau, who initially considered using it for an avant-garde ballet. Although this specific project evolved into the ballet Parade with a new score, the Trois Morceaux later formed the basis for Leonide Massine's ballet Premier Amour (1924), showcasing its adaptability to other art forms.

Cultural Resonance

Appearances in Media

The evocative nature of the Trois Morceaux has led to its inclusion in various artistic contexts. Excerpts have been featured in the soundtracks of notable films, including Terrence Malick's Badlands (1973) and Martin Scorsese's Hugo (2011). Choreographer Merce Cunningham also utilized the score for his 1953 ballet Septet.

Artistic Homage

The suite's distinctive title and Satie's persona have inspired visual artists. Man Ray, a contemporary and friend, created lithographs titled Erik Satie's Pear in tribute. The "pear" motif has become a recurring element in Satie's iconography, notably featured at the Satie Birthplace and Museum (Les Maisons Satie) in Honfleur.

Radio and Stage

The work's narrative potential was explored in Alistair McGowan's 2013 BBC Radio 4 play, Three Pieces in the Shape of a Pear, which dramatized Satie's life. The enduring appeal of the music continues to inspire new interpretations and engagements across different artistic disciplines.

Notable Recordings

Piano Duet Interpretations

The Trois Morceaux has been recorded by numerous esteemed pianists. Notable interpretations for piano duet include those by:

  • Aldo Ciccolini (EMI)
  • Robert and Gaby Casadesus (CBS)
  • Georges Auric and Jacques Fรฉvrier (Disques Adรจs)
  • Anne Queffรฉlec and Catherine Collard (Virgin Classics)
  • Katia and Marielle Labรจque (KML)

Many other distinguished artists have contributed to the recorded legacy of this work.

Orchestral Arrangements

Roger Dรฉsormiรจre, a composer and conductor who championed Satie's music, created an orchestral arrangement of the Trois Morceaux. This version has been performed and recorded, notably by Maurice Abravanel with the Utah Symphony (Vanguard).

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References

References

  1.  Both projects were to texts by Satie's longtime friend, the poet Lord Cheminot (Contamine de Latour).
  2.  Frank N. Magill (ed.), "The 20th Century O-Z: Dictionary of World Biography", Routledge, 2013, p. 3332.
  3.  Vladimir Golschmann, "Golschmann Remembers Erik Satie", Musical America 22 (August 1972), p. 11. The italics are in Golschmann's original.
  4.  This anecdote was first related during Satie's lifetime by critic Michel-Dimitri Calvocoressi in his article "Erik Satie: A Few Recollections and Remarks", Monthly Musical Record, 55, 6, January 1925.
  5.  Patrick Gowers and Nigel Wilkins, "Erik Satie", "The New Grove: Twentieth-Century French Masters", Macmillan Publishers Limited, London, 1986, p. 139. Reprinted from "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians", 1980 edition.
  6.  Olof Hรƒยถjer, notes to "Erik Satie: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6", Swedish Society Discofil, 1996, pp. 20-21.
  7.  Orledge, "Satie the Composer", p. 55. This is one of only three Satie letters to Debussy that survive.
  8.  Rollo H. Myers, "Erik Satie", Dover Publications, Inc., NY, 1968, p. 75. Originally published in 1948 by Denis Dobson Ltd., London.
  9.  On his deathbed Satie told Robert Caby that "there is a musical language and one must learn it." See Davis, "Erik Satie", p. 76.
  10.  Erik Satie, letter to Conrad Satie dated January 17, 1911. Published in Ornella Volta (ed.), "Satie Seen Through His Letters", Marion Boyars Publishers, London, 1989, pp. 27-28.
  11.  See also original edition of the score (1911) available at IMSLP, http://imslp.org/wiki/3_Morceaux_en_forme_de_poire_(Satie,_Erik)
  12.  Ornella Volta (ed.), "Satie Seen Through His Letters", Marion Boyars Publishers, London, 1989, p. 102.
  13.  See Orledge, "Satie the Composer", p. 287; Whiting, "Satie the Bohemian", p. 487; Hรƒยถjer, notes to "Erik Satie: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6", p. 21.
  14.  Volta, "Satie Seen Through His Letters", p. 108. The two epithets (emmerdante and connerie in the original French) were italicized by Satie.
  15.  Sally Banes, "Writing Dancing in the Age of Postmodernism", Second Edition, Wesleyan University Press, 2011, Part II, Chapter 8.
  16.  Hรƒยถjer, notes to "Erik Satie: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6", Swedish Society Discofil, 1996, pp. 20-21.
  17.  Video guide of Les Maisons Satie at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJqWeMqcbso
  18.  IMDb soundtrack page for Badlands at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069762/soundtrack
  19.  IMDb soundtrack page for Hugo at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/soundtrack
A full list of references for this article are available at the Trois Morceaux en forme de poire Wikipedia page

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