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stingo · 04-01-2008, 08:59 PM

Satie: Piano Works
Aldo Ciccolini, piano
Gabriel Tacchino, piano
EMI

Much like Pachelbel before him, Satie is known mainly for one piece of music - Gymnopedie No. 1. The title may be unfamiliar, but I'd find it hard to believe that the music would be. The 3 Gymnopedies are inspired by figures in various poses painted on a Grecian urn. The music suggests a kind of Western-style Kabuki setting where the figures move ever so slowly in an elegant dance. The rest of the pieces here highlight how talented (if eccentric) a miniaturist Satie was. Reading the titles of some of the pieces those eccentricities are apparent: Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear, Truly Flabby Preludes for a Dog, 3 Sketches and Exasperations of a Big Wooden Fellow. But the music the titles sit on is all very high quality.

Aldo Ciccolini is probably the most renowned of Satie interpreters - and the playing on this recording will bear witness to why. Phrasing, dynamics, and tempi all seem to be as they should be - I couldn't think of a case where I wished something was played differently. Perhaps the greatest testament to Ciccolini's abilities is that there are no less than four sets of Satie's piano music with his name on it. The present volume is the first (and cheapest) taken from Ciccolini's digital traversal of Satie's piano works in 1986. (Note though that some reviews have noted that the sound quality is serviceable, but not outstanding.) The second is a more expansive 2 Disc set drawn from Ciccolini's original late 60's-early 70's analog set of recordings. The other two options are the remastered analog set or digital set (both are 5CDs) of the complete piano works. The main difference between them is that in the original set, Ciccolini overdubbed himself in the pieces requiring 4 hands. In the digital set, he is joined by Gabriel Tacchino. In other words, if you really like what you hear on the present volume you could spring for one of the 5CD sets of Satie's complete piano works. But if you want just the hits (or hit in this case) and don't mind that the recording isn't the best of the best, you'd be well-served by this CD.

Gymnopedie No. 1 - Basic Library (Repertoire and Performance)
The Rest - Worth Hearing (Repertoire), Basic Library (Performance)

Audio Samples, Satie

04-01-2008, 08:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
stingo Cheesy Rack Guy Wannabe Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,995 My Profile	Erik Satie: Piano Works Satie: Piano Works Aldo Ciccolini, piano Gabriel Tacchino, piano EMI Much like Pachelbel before him, Satie is known mainly for one piece of music - Gymnopedie No. 1. The title may be unfamiliar, but I'd find it hard to believe that the music would be. The 3 Gymnopedies are inspired by figures in various poses painted on a Grecian urn. The music suggests a kind of Western-style Kabuki setting where the figures move ever so slowly in an elegant dance. The rest of the pieces here highlight how talented (if eccentric) a miniaturist Satie was. Reading the titles of some of the pieces those eccentricities are apparent: Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear, Truly Flabby Preludes for a Dog, 3 Sketches and Exasperations of a Big Wooden Fellow. But the music the titles sit on is all very high quality. Aldo Ciccolini is probably the most renowned of Satie interpreters - and the playing on this recording will bear witness to why. Phrasing, dynamics, and tempi all seem to be as they should be - I couldn't think of a case where I wished something was played differently. Perhaps the greatest testament to Ciccolini's abilities is that there are no less than four sets of Satie's piano music with his name on it. The present volume is the first (and cheapest) taken from Ciccolini's digital traversal of Satie's piano works in 1986. (Note though that some reviews have noted that the sound quality is serviceable, but not outstanding.) The second is a more expansive 2 Disc set drawn from Ciccolini's original late 60's-early 70's analog set of recordings. The other two options are the remastered analog set or digital set (both are 5CDs) of the complete piano works. The main difference between them is that in the original set, Ciccolini overdubbed himself in the pieces requiring 4 hands. In the digital set, he is joined by Gabriel Tacchino. In other words, if you really like what you hear on the present volume you could spring for one of the 5CD sets of Satie's complete piano works. But if you want just the hits (or hit in this case) and don't mind that the recording isn't the best of the best, you'd be well-served by this CD. Gymnopedie No. 1 - Basic Library (Repertoire and Performance) The Rest - Worth Hearing (Repertoire), Basic Library (Performance) Audio Samples, Satie __________________ Tom Infirma nostris corporis virtute firmans perpeti (Strengthen our weak body with eternal power) - Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Text attributed to Hrabanus Maurus Training Log, Progress Pictures, Kitchen Adventures, Classical Music Library, Relay for Life