Erik Satie
Mercure
Short instrumentation: 2 1 2 1 - 2 2 1 1 - perc(2), str
Duration: 15'
Dedication: A Madame la Comtesse Etienne de Beaumont
Instrumentation details:
piccolo
flute
oboe
1st clarinet in Bb
2nd clarinet in Bb
bassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
1st trumpet in C
2nd trumpet in C
trombone
tuba
percussion (2 players)
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
contrabass
Satie - Mercure for orchestra
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Translation, reprints and more
Erik Satie
Satie: Mercure for piano - op. posth.Orchestration: for piano
Type: Klavierauszug
Sample pages
Work introduction
Satie's Aventures des Mercures was commissioned by the Comte Etienne de Beaumont for a series of avant-garde theatrical performances called Les Soirées de Paris, which were produced at the Teatre de la Cigale in 1924. The designs for Mercures were by Picasso and the choreography by Massine.
The first performance was a disaster and ended in uproar. Surrealists in the audience – enthusiasts of Picasso's work – were contemptuous of Satie's music, and their anger at Picasso's co-operation with him was vociferous.
I have re-orchestrated Mercures for two reasons. Firstly, I have always felt that Satie's own orchestration has ironed out the individuality and the quirkiness which distinguish the music and I wanted to restore those qualities. My second reason is the simple one which Stravinsky gave when asked why he re-orchestrated other men's work: 'Because I love music'.
Harrison Birtwistle