Great
Classical Music
Composers

Erik SATIE

17 May 1866 - 1 July 1925 (age 59)

Portrait by Paul Helm
click on image for more info

Erik Satie was an eccentric French composer, pianist and writer. His works have flavours of Impressionism, Surrealism and Dadaism. He influenced Debussy and Ravel.

Family

Born: Alfred Erik Leslie Satie (Honfleur, 17 May 1866
Father: Alfred, a translator
Mother: Jane Lesie Anton, born in London of Scottish parents, died when he was 6.
Siblings: younger brother Conrad.
Partners: 6 month affair with Suzanne Valadon, artist and model and mother of Maurice Utrillo. Devasted on break up and apparently never had another intimate relationship/
Children: none
Died: Paris, 1 July 1925
Cause of death: Cirrhosis of the liver
Grave: Cimetiere d'Arcueil, Arcueil, France

Erik on Amazon

Books and CD's on Amazon.com (US)

Works

He worked as a music-hall pianist, 1890s
Composed 84 musical works between 1885 and 1924 including:
Orchestral
Le Belle Excentrique
Cinq Grimaces
En Habit de Cheval
Chamber Music
Musique d'ameublement
Ballet
Mercure
Parade
Relache
Stage works
Le piege de Meduse
Genevieve de Brabant
Choral
Messe des Pauvres
Piano
Gymnopedies (3)
Gnossiennes (6)
Ogives
Next-to-last thoughts
I Want You
Gold Dust
Cold Pieces
Truly Flabby Pieces for a Dog
3 dried-up embryos
Old Sequins and Armour
Childish Chatter
Tiresome Peccadilloes
Vexation

♫ Gymnopédie No.1 [piano] ♫

Quotes

- “Before I compose a piece, I walk around it several times, accompanied by myself.”

- “When I was young, I was told: 'You'll see, when you're fifty. I am fifty and I haven't seen a thing.”

- “Why attack God? He may be as miserable as we are”

- “The musician is perhaps the most modest of animals, but he is also the proudest. It is he who invented the sublime art of ruining poetry.”

On eBay right now:

On eBay you will find bargains galore but more interestingly there is a treasure chest of old items. Out of print books, old recordings no longer available, memorabilia and goods no longer sold on the High Street.To see what is currently on offer take a look at: