Three Gymnopédies for Oboe & Harp

3 Gymnopodies arranged for Oboe & Harp.

Satie's Gymnopedies are what many consider to be the groundwork for today's ambient music; it's as ignorable as it is interesting (although, I find it hard to ignore such great music). These three beautiful pieces for acoustic piano and oboe are calming, reflective, ethereal, relaxing, soothing, and elegant.

Gymnopedie No. 1 - Lent et douloureux (slow and mournfully):

With a hollow, but eerily warm melody gently floating atop an accompaniment of steady short-long rhythms, Gymnopedie No. 1 is as expressive as it is transparent. Its simplicity and openness masterfully disguises its apparent dissonances.

Gymnopedie No. 2 - Lent et triste (slow and sad):

Gymnopedie No. 2, although sharing the same short-long accompaniment in the left hand, the mood of this piece is entirely different from No. 1 and 3. Its lack of a commitment to a steady key leads the melody on a nebulous path wandering aimlessly through a series of chords.

Gymnopedie No. 3 - Lent et grave (slowly and solemnly):

Similar in melodic structure, Gymnopedie No. 3 is a minor key version of Gymnopedie No. 1. Its hypnotic-like accompaniment leads the listener in an almost out of body experience. If played as it is intended, the texture of this piece is as smooth as silk.

Although originally composed for Piano, I created this transcription for Oboe and Concert (Pedal) Harp.