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Jazz: Satie, Variations 1–4 by Jacques Loussier Trio
Listening activity
The Jacques Loussier Trio is probably most famous for their use of the music of J.S. Bach as the basis of their jazz improvisations. However, they also released improvisations on the music of Handel, Vivaldi, Debussy and Ravel as well as original compositions. In the late 1990s Loussier released Jacquess Loussier Plays Satie, an entire CD based on the music of Erik Satie. It includes four variations on Gymnopédie No 1.
If
you can't obtain a copy of this recording, you can hear short excerpts
from each of these variations, in mp3 format, on the Yahoo shopping site.
Select Satie,
by Jacques Loussier Trio Telarc
CD-83431 at: http://shopping.yahoo.com/shop?d=product&id=1921540137&clink=dmmu.artist 
Some
of the key features are identified in the following listening guide.
As you listen to the extract of each variation, complete the details
for each concept.
Listening guide
| Concepts | Variation 1 | Variation 2 | Variation 3 | Variation 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Triple time
|
Triple time, syncopated | 4/4, slow crotchet rest | 4/4 in 8, syncopated |
| Pitch | Melody
in harmony
|
Chordal improvisation | Improvised melody | Block chords in piano, melodic bass line |
| Dynamics and expressive techniques | Up
tempo |
|||
| Tone colour | Wind
chimes. Bass, drums on 1st beat. |
Piano solo, no bass or drums | Snare with brushes, pizzicato bass. | |
| Texture | ||||
| Structure | Has
an introduction. |
|