Eric Satie

 

Here I am in one of the many cafés where Eric Satie plays his trance like music. Let’s see if I can get his attention. 

I cough loudly and raise my hand waving to get this master musicians attention. 

“Mr. Satie, Mr. Satie, can I have a few words with you?” trying not to shout. 

Mr. Satie swings around on the piano bench, lowers his glasses and smiles.  

He gets up from the piano and heads in my direction. I am almost speechless. 

I am star struck and Mr. Satie knows it, I am sure he has seen this look in many of his fans. Graciously he sits down and kisses my hand. So romantic, so gallant.  

“Mr. Satie” I say, and he interrupts “Please call me Eric.” 

“Eric thanks for sitting at my table. I so admire your courage to create your own music in your own style and in your own time. How did you do it, how did you keep from buckling under peer pressure and the expectations of society to fit in with everyone else?” 

Eric gives a belly laugh “It was quite easy for me; I just knew in my bones and intuition that the only route for me was my art. Nothing else mattered; I just kept going and handled any obstacle that came up. Peer pressure became nonexistent and a large part of society was accepting of my music. Those were just two of the markers that kept me going.” 

“So simple and wonderful advice, I needed to hear this.” I said. Eric looked at me and muttered something about being glad to help and rushed away because he had to begin a new concert.  

I listened to his three gymnopedies and was swept away; his work is minimalist and abstract at the same time, serene and notes drifting in the air moment to moment. 

I relaxed my mind and reentered the atmosphere of the café. Feeling renewed ever so gently I exited the café and walked down the rain-soaked cobblestone back to my home with the advice of Eric Satie: stay close and true to your art, this is all that matters. 

Georgia P