MEANDERING MUSIC - Satie Gymnopedie no. 1 - Analysis

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn attempts an analysis of Satie's emblematic and relaxing Gymnopedie no. 1. The music doesn't behave the way we expect it to; it moves around in modal ways, meandering through constantly shifting tonal centers. It's hard to even decide what key it's in because of the initial oscillation between two Maj7 chords.

0:16 introduction
2:04 Analysis
15:24 Conclusion

⭐️ EASY ARRANGEMENT
💲 -15% DISCOUNT Code: "secretseeker"

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Erik Satie: Gymnopedie no. 1: Lent et douloureux (1888)

[SonataSecrets]

Check out my EASY ARRANGEMENT of this piece:
💲 Get 15% off with the discount code: "secretseeker"

[patricklaine]

Very interesting analysis. It's amazing he wrote this at 22. That said, I always have the feeling that it ends

[markstedman]

I remember when I first heard this piece, I was a angry teenager an had no time for any music outside of my rock experience.This music stopped me and made my mind go somewhere I didn't know, I'm not sure how to describe it, sad haunting, melancholic, there is something eternal its beauty, ah bewitching! yes that's it.

[utekarg]

Yeah, Satie is cool. As a beginner I preferred playing proper pieces instead of boring exercises, and Satie is perfect for that. Quite easy technically, but sooo expressive and meaningful. I started with this one, followed by Gnossienne 1 and 3 and the amazing danses de travers. I would appreciate it very much if you could do more Satie analyses and explain why it sounds so elegant and exotic. Thanks!

[renatagomestpm]

I don’t play piano or any other instrument (don’t even have a clue how to) and got here because this awesome song. Despite not knowing how to play, I liked very much your explanations about the piece and its name. I watched till the end because the video is very nice. Thanks for that. 😊

[ProfessorQi]

Thank you for deciphering this favorite piece of music. The genius is in the timing and stubborn irregularity. I never tire of its charm.

[dhio]

I love how Satie made one of the easiest piece to play stupidly hard to understand

[claudioavia]

I totally agree with him, it brings me such amazing feeling while playing this song, I feel like there is something "golden" inside me 🙂

[marinabolanos]

I am starting to learn this piece and I found your analysis so helpful and inspiring. Thank you so much! :)

[ZacharyBlaszak]

I think that due to Satie composing so close to when Jazz was becoming prominent helps to understand what he was doing with many of his compositions. It almost seems as though he was learning how jazz changes worried less about the actually “theory” reasons for making chords work with a tune and focused more on how to add color to a melody. Loved the analysis though!

[daintydainty]

Yet another well and clearly explained analysis of this wonderful peace. Well done!

[atmadeepmukherjee]

Whenever I hear the melody, it feels like the word "Particulate Matter".

You are amazing, Sir. Your interpretation is amazing and you totally go into the music world whenever you do an analysis of some music. You are truly a virtuoso!

[merred]

I've been working on this piece for a few days. I decided to first read about Satie before absorbing the music, because it was clearly not written according to classical functional tonality. Then I came back and everything was clear. I took off my classical music glasses and put on my jazz ones. To be short: it is *very simple music* . No complex explanations necessary. Without going into detail: this is simply mixed mode in the key of D. *No* shifting of tonal centers. It is part of a technique known as extended tonality. At the same time he weakens/avoids the strong effect of a V7-I or similar resolutions, making the music more modal and less functional. To put it into historical context: it's an example of moderate modernism.

[johnnycondor]

I can't help but feel that Satie was playing an amusing game with us by breaking so many of our "rules" -- and yet ... his composition sounds very soothing and pleasant. I fell in love with this one at the very moment its gentle beauty first began to work its way into my imagination. I never tire of hearing it yet again.

[bonjovi]

As a beginner pianist but very long time blues guitarist I totally get Satie. I’m amazed how many pianists fall into the trap of playing the melody too hurriedly after the slow chord introduction. If you don’t ‘feel’ the longing for the next note of the melody you’ll never achieve what Satie wanted with this music. You sir, play it with a real sense of longing. Thanks.

[msurenbrannin]

Thank you, this was very interesting and for a very interesting piece of music. No wonder I haven't grown tired of it!

[kennethmgoins]

You're an excellent teacher; I appreciate your time and expertise. Thank you!

[GrotrianSeiler]

Pure genius, because it generates so much conversation, and discussion, and analysis. Excellent video!

[wongkohping]

This song motivates me to start taking piano lessons. 🎹

[shammarihook]

Thank you for this deeply intriguing analysis of such an otherworldly, gentle and dreamy composition.