11 December 200812 December 2008 Main Posts piano and Satie Andrew The piano had been sitting there gathering dust — it was ‘on loan’ for several years while its previous owner made up his mind what he wanted to do with it, and now it’s become a permanent fixture. So I started taking lessons. Currently I’m working on “Gymnopédie No. 1” by Erik Satie. It’s a famous piece, but I heard it a few weeks ago when I saw the film Man on Wire, a documentary about a guy who tight-rope walked between the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in the 1970s. I also remember it from Diva, and I’m sure it’s been in a bunch of French films. The music is simple and beautiful and filled with a sense of impermanence and longing. Satie wrote it in 1888 when he was 22, the bastard. It makes me think of early autumn mornings before the city is properly awake and the sun is trying and failing to reach the ground. I bought the sheet music for some of Satie’s other piano pieces today. The best thing about them is the playful indications Satie gives for the performer. Here are a few, translated from French: ralentir — becoming softer diminuer — getting slower douloureux — sadly, sorrowful triste — sadly très luisant — very brightly questionnez — ask du bout de la pensée — on the brink of an idea postulez en vous-même — make your own demands pas à pas — little by little sur la langue — on the tip of the tongue avec étonnement — with astonishment ne sortez pas — don’t leave dans une grande bonté — with much kindness plus intiment — more intimately avec une légere intimité — with a light intimacy sans orgveil — without arrogance conseillez-vous soigneusement — plan with care muniessez-vous de clairvoyance — arm yourself sharply seul, pendant un instant — alone, for a moment de manière à obtenir un creux — how to achieve absolutely nothing très perdue — quite lost portez cela plus loin — pursue this further ouvrez la tête — open your head enfouissez le son — muffle the sound Andrew More by Andrew Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays First published in Overland Issue 228 11 November 202211 November 2022 Main Posts On the last day of Subscriberthon, our amazing online editor gives you one last (very good) reason to subscribe Editorial team What's in store for the last day of Subscriberthon? First published in Overland Issue 228 10 November 202210 November 2022 Main Posts On the second-last day of Subscriberthon, our favourite editor-duo give you reason #1002 to subscribe to Overland Editorial team What's in store for the second-last day of Subscriberthon?