Tune of the Day: Gnossienne No. 6
Composed in 1897, Erik Satie's Gnossienne No. 6 for solo piano was only published in 1968. Like Gnossiennes Nos. 4 and 5, the piece was never called a “Gnossienne” by the composer himself, but was arranged and published as such by Robert Caby long after Satie's death.
The original edition calls for a tempo of 66 BPM (also confirmed by the indication that the total duration of the piece should be 1'20"), but many pianists prefer to play this Gnossienne at a much slower tempo.
Like the three original Gnossiennes, this piece contains a few unusual indications: “Avec conviction et avec une tristesse rigoureuse” (“with conviction and with a rigorous sadness”), “Dans une saine supériorité” (“in a healthy superiority”), “Hâve de corps” (“gaunt of body”), “savamment” (“skilfully”).
Thanks to Paul Merkus for contributing this arrangement for flute and piano!