Erik Satie (1866-1925) • Socrate | John Cage (1912-1992) • Cheap Imitation CD

Erik Satie (1866-1925) • Socrate | John Cage (1912-1992) • Cheap Imitation CD

Erik Satie: Socrate Socrate (1918) Drame symphonique en trois parties avec voix sur des dialogues de Platon traduits par Victor Cousin. Ouvrage composé pour les représentaions de la Princesse Edmond de Polignac A Madame la Princesse Edmond de Polignac Et à la Mèmoire du Prince Edmond de Polignac. E.S.  (30:11)
Alto: Hilke Helling • Bösendorfer Konzertflügel: Deborah Richards
1 – I. Portrait De Socrate 5:47
2 – II. Bords De L' Ilissus 7:05
3 – III. Mort De Socrate 17:19

John Cage: Cheap Imitation (1969)  (31:05)
Bösendorfer Konzertflügel: Herbert Henck
4 – I. ? = 60 6:46
5 – II. ? = 60 7:18
6 – III. ? = 72 17:00

John Cage's "Cheap Imitation" was the result of a special occasion in December 1969: A project of the choreographer and dancer, Merce Cunningham, wanting to include Satie's "Socrate" in the version for small orchestra and voice, was threatened from taking place due to the high fees for the material; simultaneously the French publisher refused Cage permission to arrange the work for two pianos. Cage found a way out with the "Cheap Imitation", in which he subjected the entire score of "Socrate" to a type of metamorphosis. With the aid of a chance process developed from the Taosit oracle "I Ching" he transformed Satie's score into a new composition, in which however the contours of the original work were still clearly recognizable (bar division, rhythm, agogic), but especially the pitches and their octave registers were changed.

Wergo Records