Erik Satie: 3 Gymnopedies & 3 Gnossiennes: Transcriptions for Guitar

Erik Satie's famous Gymnopedies and Gnossiennes make a great addition to any guitarist's repertoire. These transcriptions are suitable for beginner to intermediate level guitarists.

French composer Erik Satie (1866 – 1925) was an influential figure in the Parisian avant-garde scene of his time. His work is recognized as one of the forerunners of significant musical developments of the 20th Century.

The three gymnopédies transcribed here, for example, are a precursor of ambient music where the focus is on the overall atmosphere rather than the more traditional means of development and variation. Melody and harmony, however, are still absolutely essential: the mild dissonances inherent in them produce the characteristic melancholic mood that these three short pieces are famous for.

The 3 gnossiennes transcribed here were composed about a decade later and are a continuation of Satie’s style. While the gymnopédies are in three-four meter, the gnossiennes have no time signature. This is known as free time and it indicates that the rhythm is to flow freely rather than be measured strictly. Although there are a small number of other gnossiennes by Satie, only these three form part of his original set.