Gym But No Gymnastics

Three Gymnopedies and six Gnossienne are surveyed along with other piano works by Erik Satie on this disk by Pascal Roge. Satie's output was not large anyway but the Gymnopedies and Gnossienne are by far the most well known and they do inhabit this restrained miniature world that is so atmospheric and evocative. It is apparent that they share time and space with such as Debussy but the pared down minimalism of them is totally individual but thoroughly charming. Roge takes the Gymnopedies fractionally faster than some but not in a way to jeopardise their hypnotic effect and the playing of the Gnossienne is pretty well perfect. The other piano works included are given strong advocacy by Roge but they do suffer in comparison with the famous pieces, several showing touches of very early jazz and ragtime and of French music hall. If Satie achieved nothing else, with these two cycles he began an influence that resonated down through the 20th century to figures as diverse as Cage and Bill Evans and their followers.