Sonatinas -- Clementi and Satie -- Tzivia and Maital
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 янв 2025
- In a rare occurrence, two of my piano students finished playing two related sonatinas at around the same time. These are Clementi's Sonatina in C Op. 36 no.1 and Satie's Sonatine Bureaucratique.
Clementi wrote his sonatina around the turn of the 19th century and it became a staple in piano teaching. Practically every pianist has probably played this sonatina at some point of their training.
By Satie's time a little after the turn of the 20th century this sonatina was extremely well known and ripe for a parody by Satie.
Here you can hear Tzivia playing the original Clementi sonatina, followed immediately by Maital playing the Satie parody. Can you hear the resemblance?
Satie also parodies the unrelated practice of program music by writing a ridiculous story on top of the notes of the sonatina. It mostly has nothing to do with the music.
Here's the text (Google translated):
First Movement:
Off he goes.
He cheerfully goes to his office, "goofing around".
Happy, he nods.
He likes a pretty, very elegant lady.
He also likes his pen holder, his green lustering sleeves and his Chinese skullcap.
He takes long strides; rushes up the stairs which he climbs on his back.
What a gust of wind!
Sitting in his armchair he is happy, and shows it.
2nd movement
He reflects on his progress.
Maybe he'll get a raise without needing to advance.
He plans to move next term.
He has an apartment lined up.
As long as it advances or increases!
New dream about advancement.
3rd movement:
He hums an old Peruvian tune that he picked up in Lower Brittany from a deaf-mute.
A nearby piano plays Clementi.
How sad this is.
He dares to waltz! (Him, not the piano)
This is all very sad.
The piano resumes its work.
Our friend benevolently questions himself.
The cold Peruvian air rushes to his head.
The piano continues.
Alas! You have to leave your office, your good office.
Courage: let’s leave, he said.