Eric Satie is a famous French composer and pianist, whose work influenced the formation of European music in the first quarter of the 20th century. However, real recognition came to him only after his death.
Biography
Eric-Alfred-Leslie Satie, better known as Eric Satie, was born in the coastal town of Honfleur, located in the Norman region of France, on May 17, 1866. His father Jules Alfred Satie initially worked as a ship broker, but after moving to Paris he became a translator. His mother, Jane Leslie Anton, studied music and wrote several pieces for piano.
Eric Satie became the firstborn of his parents. Later, his younger sister Olga Lafosse and brother Konrad were born. Until 1872, the family lived in Paris, but after the death of their mother, the children were sent to Honfleur, where they were brought up by their paternal grandfather in strict Catholic traditions.
Eric Satie's house in Honfleur Photo: Francis Schonken / Wikimedia Commons
Sati showed interest in music from childhood. In 1874, his grandfather sent him to study piano under the direction of the organist of the local church. Vinot, that was the name of Sati's teacher, introduced the boy to liturgical music and Gregorian singing, the influence of which can be traced in his subsequent works.
In 1878, the piano teacher left Honfleur. In the same year, his grandmother died and the children were sent back to Paris to their father. Around 1879, Satie entered the Paris Conservatory. But the teachers did not understand the young man's creativity and considered him a lazy student. In the end, after two and a half years of training, Sati was expelled.
But he continued to write music and in 1885 returned to the conservatory, but this did not change the attitude of the teachers either to him or to his work. In November 1886, Sati left the conservatory and volunteered for military service.
View of Paris Photo: Josh Hallett / Wikimedia Commons
Very soon he realized that army life was not for him. Wanting to return home quickly, Sati began to get out of his barracks at night and walk half-dressed in the cold winter air. As a result, he contracted severe bronchitis.
In April 1887, the pianist returned to Paris on a two-month leave of absence for health reasons, and in November 1887 he was finally discharged from the army.
Career and creativity
After recovering from his illness at home, Eric Satie began working on two of his famous works "Trois Sarabandes" and "Gymnopedies". He then focused on the creation of "Sarabandes", which was completed on September 18, 1887 and was among the first three major compositions by Eric Satie, along with "Trois Sarabandes" and "Gymnopedies".
In December 1887, he received 1,600 francs as a gift from his father and moved to the bohemian part of Paris, Montmartre. In the same year, Satie met and became friends with the famous French composer Claude Debussy.
View of Montmartre, Paris Photo: Josefu ~ commonswiki / Wikimedia Commons
Later, the composer created such works as "Ogives", "Gnossiennes", "Tendrement", "Danses gothiques", "Le Picadilly", "Prelude d'Eginhard", "Priere", "Modere" and others, but throughout his creative activity, he constantly experienced financial instability.
In the end, Satie was forced to leave Montmartre and move to Arkey, where he spent the last years of his life.
Family and personal life
Eric Satie has never been married. Perhaps the reason for this was his unsuccessful romance with the artist and model Suzanne Weldon. The relationship with Bikwy, as Eric called his beloved, began in 1893.
He wrote passionate letters to her and intended to marry a girl. But after six months of romantic relationship, she left him. Sati was devastated and never again had a desire to connect his life with another woman.
Over the years he suffered from alcoholism and eventually the pianist developed cirrhosis of the liver, from which he died on July 1, 1925 at the age of 59.
Tomb of Eric Sati Photo: Jo arb / Wikimedia Commons
Eric Satie was buried in the Arkay cemetery.
