The Best of Satie: CD

Erik Satie, born in France in 1866, was a lazy pupil at the Paris Conservatoire, and he only came to public attention after Debussy made orchestrations of two of his piano pieces, Gymnopédies. Satie became a 'character' in the Latin Quarter of Paris, the media naming him as part of a group of six provocative composers they called 'Les Six.' He added to his notoriety with a ballet score, Parade, the outrage that it caused bringing him even greater publicity. Later in life he made an effort to become an academically accepted composer through a series of works for the piano. His music will be remembered for its wit and charm, and above all for the sheer joy that it imparts.