Эрик Сати

by Mary E. Davis, Мэри Э. Дэвис

Эрик Сати (1866–1925) — авангардный композитор, мистик, дадаист, богемный гимнопедист Монмартра, а также легендарный Вельветовый джентльмен, заслуженно является иконой модернизма. Будучи «музыкальным эксцентриком», он переосмыслил композиторское искусство и выявил новые методы художественного выражения. Но, по словам Мэри Э. Дэвис, автора книги, «Сати важен не только для авангарда, но и для фигур, полностью вписанных в музыкальный мейнстрим — например, для Клода Дебюсси и Игоря Стравинского», а его персона давно заняла особое место в музыкальной истории человечества.
Настоящая биография не только исследует жизнь композитора, но и изучает феномен «намеренного слияния публичного образа и художественного дара» Сати, а также дает исчерпывающий портрет современной ему эпохи.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, France, History, Art, Biography Memoir

184 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Kimley · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so my obsession begins...

[Marc Weidenbaum]

This is a brief, breezy survey of a figure in music whose apparent breeziness -- the ease with which his music insinuates itself into a listening environment -- is the subject of ongoing debate. Putting aside the indelible melodies of his ethereal Gymnopédies (an inherent contradiction that is the source of his genius), Satie is the proto-Dadaist, the forerunner to Fluxus, and the great godfather of ambient. And Erik Satie taught us the cure for love: just play his Vexations 840 times.

We don't learn much about his youth, but his adulthood in Paris is closely related, from his friendships to his living quarters to the way the various stages of his life are demarcated by changes in his wardrobe. Davis's work is valuable not just as an easy orientation to the storied figure, but also because of her focus on works that are less likely to pop up on classical radio stations.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very quick read and fascinating biography and study on Erik Satie and his work as well as his social group: Cocteau, Picasso, Picabia, etc. Satie, where now one can hear in every groovy cafe around the world, was considered the edge in Avant-Garde music. A man of incredible eccentric methods, was tailor made for the DADA period. In fact he's was the fresh wind coming into the 20th Century from the old and stale 19th Century. And any man who invented the concept of background music is a friend of mine!

But this is really an outstanding book about a very interesting man - and who was also a fantastic composer.

[Jesús Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro me sirvió para conocer la vida de este gran pianista y lo logró. Fue admirable su vida, su creatividad y extravagancia , fue un innovador musical y al parecer un escritor muy satírico y burlón

Me hubiera gustado que hubiera expuesto más textos suyos, pero se concentró en la parte musical que seguramente fue muy interesante pero que me costó trabajo seguir

Si lo que desean es un libro que te muestre quien fue Satie, este es el indicado

[Chris Nagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The butler did it.

Like not enough biographies of musicians, this one involves Satie's life and music both. Without getting very technical about the music (which in Satie's case isn't very technical anyway), Mary E. Davis explains how Satie composed, how he used source material like cabaret or pop songs, and to a certain extent what his artistic goals were. She also discusses his life as an artist among the beaux-arts, décadents, avant-garde, and Dada that he played with.

The bio never gets deeply into any particulars of any of this, which is rather like Satie, ain't it?

[Lina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language is too hard to read. Not an easy reading.

[Michael Denvir · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating life

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this magical composer. Inspiring and sometimes sad. A real human being ahead of his time.

[Eman Aboulsaad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not being an expert on Satie, the book was an interesting insight into the lives of artists during the era, their ups and downs. What stiked me the most was, depsite his success, Satie practically had nothing at the time of his death, despite the fame and articles to his name. The book was a bit of a tough read at times given the numerous references to technical musical terms which someone who hasn't studied music might not comprehend. Other than that, a fresh read.

[Ibrahim Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid read, but the focus was more on the music than the man. I realize the two are inseparable, but you really don't learn anything about Satie the person that you can't on Wikipedia.

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice, short and well-written intro to Satie.

[Alex Khlopenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading it for the second time and it is as fun as learning it first. Almost as good as listening to Satie's music.

*off to buy 17 velvet suits*

[Eduard Hakobyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satin interesting person. Recomend

[Svetlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хорошо, но очень кратко.