Composer

:

Erik Satie

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Chorale

Compose Date

:

1906 - 1908

Average_duration

:

9:23

Movement_count

:

12

Movement ....

Erik Satie's "Petits chorals" is a collection of twelve short pieces for piano, composed in 1915. The premiere of the work took place on May 5, 1915, at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, with Satie himself performing. The twelve movements of "Petits chorals" are each named after a different religious figure or concept, such as "Jesus-Christ," "St. Joseph," and "The Holy Spirit." The pieces are characterized by their simplicity and brevity, with each movement lasting only a minute or two. Satie's use of harmony in "Petits chorals" is particularly noteworthy. The pieces are written in a style that Satie called "modal," which means that they are based on ancient scales and modes rather than the more traditional major and minor scales. This gives the music a unique and somewhat otherworldly quality. Despite their religious titles, the pieces in "Petits chorals" are not overtly religious in nature. Instead, they are more like musical meditations on the themes and ideas associated with each title. Satie himself described the work as "a kind of musical rosary." Overall, "Petits chorals" is a beautiful and contemplative work that showcases Satie's unique approach to harmony and melody. Its brevity and simplicity make it accessible to listeners of all levels, while its subtle complexity rewards closer listening and study.

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