Lent et grave: the last and gravest of the three, a quiet melody in A minor over swaying chords.
The story
The third Gymnopédie is marked Lent et grave: slow and grave. It shares the rocking accompaniment of the first two, with a darker, simpler tune.
Debussy admired the set enough to orchestrate the first and third in 1897, which first made Satie’s name known beyond Montmartre.
Two things to know
- Satie never explained the title; it may come from dances at festivals in ancient Sparta.
- All three pieces are in 3/4 and about two to three minutes long.
How to play it
Let each low bass note ring, and play the chords after it lighter, like an echo.