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Satie

Erik Satie (1866-1925) was a French composer and pianist known for his eccentric personality and unconventional music. He defied categorization, though his work is often associated with Impressionism and Minimalism.

Satie studied at the Paris Conservatoire, but found academic training stifling. He preferred the atmosphere of Montmartre cabarets, where he worked as a pianist and began composing. His early works, such as the Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes, are characterized by simple, repetitive melodies and unconventional harmonies.

Later, Satie embraced humour and irony in compositions like Parade (a ballet with music for typewriters and sirens) and Furniture Music, designed to be played in the background and ignored. He influenced composers like Debussy, Ravel, and Les Six, and remains an enigmatic figure in music history.

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