Avant-dernières pensées [SEP] instrumentation
Avant-dernières pensées
The Avant-dernières pensées ("Penultimate Thoughts") is a 1915 piano composition by Erik Satie. The last of his humoristic piano suites of the 1910s, it was premiered by the composer at the Galerie Thomas in Paris on May 30, 1916, and published that same year. A typical performance lasts 3–4 minutes.
Background.
The outbreak of World War I in July 1914 was a setback for Satie just as he was gaining belated recognition as a composer. Although at age 48
Apocalypse, more idiotic than real." Some aid must have been forthcoming, for he was soon at work on the "pensées".
Description.
Originally entitled "Étrange rumeurs" ("Strange Rumors"), the three pieces comprising "Avant-dernières pensées" were completed between August 23 and October 6, 1915. Satie dedicated them to three important colleagues:
Debussy was Satie's closest friend for over 20 years, but their relations were growing strained at this time and would end bitterly in 1917