When I featured a song by Erik Satie way back in the second year of this blog, I wrote about the French composer’s tragically romantic life, unrequited love, and equally tragic early death.
Unsurprisingly, I’m not the only one who has been equally entranced by Satie’s beautiful music and sad story. In 2017, Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin released a collection of pieces called Unsent Love Letters, on the cover of which was written:
“Found in Satie’s Parisian apartment after his death were dozens of love letters that he had never sent off. Elena Kats-Chernin now sends these letters – in 26 meditative and passionate piano miniatures.“
The pieces are a wonderful and varied mix, as simple (and as deep) as Satie’s own work. They pay tribute to their subject, but stand on their own as quirky, beautiful, spontaneous songs.
What makes this a beautiful song:
1. As the opening piece in the collection, this one has a sense of excitement. The 5/4 time signature makes it feel like it’s almost too excited for its own good; one can imagine Satie getting ahead of himself as if – despite his previous rejection – he might be able to send the love letter after all.
2. It’s a piano piece, but the piano isn’t the only instrument: hints of a plucked double bass are heard midway through, like an unseen second character. Perhaps the letter’s recipient.
3. Despite its plucky energy, it ends with a tragic suddenness.
Recommended listening activity:
Using your finger to repeatedly trace the shape of a heart on the back of your hand.