Biography
Eric Satie (1866 - 1925) was a French composer with a significant influence on 20th century music.
He was born in Onfer on May 17, 1866, due to financial problems his family moved to Paris in 1870. Two years later his mother died and Eric and his younger brother were sent back to Onfer to live with their grandparents. When the grandmother drowned in 1878, the two brothers returned to their father in Paris. He started piano lessons with the local church pianist and in 1879 he enrolled in the Paris Conservatory from which he was expelled in 1882, due to lack of discipline. At the same time he began to compose piano pieces, in 1886 his first works were published. He enlisted in the army unexpectedly and after a short time, in 1888, left the army and he moved to Montmartre, Paris where began a bohemian life. That year he presented "Trois Gymnopédies", one of his most famous compositions.
In 1891 he became the second pianist at the "Inn of the Nail", where he met Claude Debussy, with whom they will have a long - albeit sometimes difficult - friendship. Around 1892 he goes through a mystical period during which he studies Gregorian music and Gothic art and becomes a member of a secret religious organization. In 1893 he was deeply in love with the painter Susan Valandon, when their relationship broke up after 5 months he fell into a deep depression.
In 1905 he decided that he wanted to continue his music studies so he enrolled in the Schola Cantorum. After graduating in 1908, full of new experiences and ideas, he entered his most mature artistic phase. Although he gained the recognition of the musicians of his time, many considered him eccentric and not serious. Surrealism often appears in his compositions and especially in his orchestral works, such as "Mercure" and "Rélâche" which were written in order to be performed on the stage. The work that for many analysts is considered his masterpiece is an orchestral composition for 4 voices that sing parts of the Platonic dialogues and is called "Socrate". Also well known and favorite works are: Gnossienne, Jazzopédie, Gymnopédies.
Satie died of a liver sanction on July 1, 1925, leaving behind a very important work that has marked the course of music in the 20th century.