Parade, Relâche and Gymnopédies

Erik Satie - Parade, Relâche and Gymnopédies

performed by The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, conducted by Louis Auriacombe

Erik Satie (1886-1925) was one of the odder figures of Music - an art which has not been lacking in odd characters and eccentric geniuses. Satie's talents were both multitudinous and many-sided, though many of these sides were strangely undeveloped. Critic Eric Salzman, in his book Twentieth Century Music, appropriately describes Satie as "a remarkable innovator with a great deal of genius if little talent."
Though Satie's art is at its most convincing in his numerous short piano pieces, his literary bent and interest in all the artistic movements of his time made inevitable an alliance with such leaders of the avant-garde as Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Jean Borlin, Serge Diaghilev, Claude Debussy, Darius Milhaud and others of the flamboyant artistic life of the Paris of that era (roughly 1905-1925). The two ballets Parade (1916) and Relâche are especially representative of Satie's later style while the Three Gymnopédies (1888) serve as a reminder of his earlier taste for Rosicrucianism, plainsong and the musical economy which he deemed of such importance all through his life. Debussy in particular was so taken with the Gymnopédies that he orchestrated two of them and, though the pieces are so beautiful one suspects they would have become famous even without it. Debussy's subtle orchestrations have contributed to their popularity.

Parade is a satirical treatment by Jean Cocteau of the attempts by a small French theatrical troupe to attract public attendance. The ballet was first produced at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris on May 18, 1917, with curtain, scenery and costumes by Pablo Picasso and choreography by Leonid Massine.
...
Relâche, in terms of ballet, is an intensification of the avant-garde, cubistic outlook of Parade. The book for Relâche was supplied by Francois Picabia. Jean Borlin, the director and premiere danseur of the Ballets Suédois (Swedish Ballet) created the choreography. Picabia and Borlin collaborated on the production itself and the "Cinématographie Entr'acte" was directed by René Clair. The first production was in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées on December 4, 1924. (Robert Jones)


Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Parade {15:30}

2. Gymnopédie No. 1 {2:27}

3. Gymnopédie No. 3 {2:59}

Side Two

1. Relâche Part 1 {9:33}

2. Relâche Conclusion {12:12}

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