Steven M. Whiting: Serious Immobilities: Musings on Satie’s Vexations*

The occasional exploitation of Satie’s Vexations as a pretext for dadaist marathons entails assumptions about the composer’s intentions that the autograph score does not support. The infamous performance note is a suggestion (not a prescription) that leaves unclear just what entity might be played 840 times in a row. The second performance note likewise permits various interpretations. Satie’s intentions for realization are ambiguously presented and ultimately unknowable. Nonetheless, the score prompts spec-ulative connections to the “Prometheus” Variations of Beethoven and to the verbal stunts of cabaret poets like Charles Cros.

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