Sheet Music: Gymnopédie No. 1

TitleGymnopédie No. 1
from Trois Gymnopédies
ComposerErik Satie (1866–1925)
InstrumentationFlute and Piano
KeyB minor
RangeE4–A5
Time signature3/4
Tempo76 BPM
Performance time3:05
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (94 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.6 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (2.6 MB)
Date added2010-02-26
Last updated2010-02-26
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 6.1 (very popular)
Categories
20th century

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Friday 26 February 2010

Tune of the Day: Gymnopédie No. 1

from “Trois Gymnopédies” by Erik Satie

The three Gymnopédies were composed during 1888, while Satie was working as a cabaret pianist in Paris.

Gymnopédie No. 1 is marked “Lent et douloureux” (slow and mournful). Its steady 3/4 meter music falls into two nearly identical halves, with an accompaniment that sets up a regular rhythm (short-long, short-long) in the first bars and then veers from that rhythm only at the very end of each half. Atop this gently swaying background is a melody of the most peculiarly expressive kind; its quarter notes are translucent, its longer notes somehow hollow at their center.

Thanks to Maria for suggesting this piece!

Other Movements from the same Work

1.Gymnopédie No. 1 Flute & Piano
2.Gymnopédie No. 2 Flute & Piano
3.Gymnopédie No. 3 Flute & Piano

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