Deux Gymnopedies, Orchestral setting

Book excerpt: This is a newly-engraved critical edition of Claude Debussy's superb orchestration of two of the Gymnopedies by his friend Erik Satie. Debussy used the two outer movements of the original three pieces in reverse order, so that Satie's No. 3 became No. 1 while No. 1 became No. 2. Satie was virtually unknown as a composer at the time of the 1897 Paris premiere of the orchestral setting, which did much to advance his reputation in the early years of the twentieth century. The piano originals are now even more renowned than Debussy's orchestration, which remains a fixture in the orchestral repertoire. The 2004 edition is now made available in a convenient and affordable study score which is sure to be appreciated by musicians, students and fans of both composers everywhere.