![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2023\/09\/ERIK-SATIE.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Pianists gathered at New York University for the 60th anniversary of the first performance of Erik Satie\u2019s Vexations, performing the piece 35 times each.<\/p>\n
Erik Satie\u2019s Vexations (1893) was first performed on September 9th, 1963, 70 years after its composition. The first performance took 18 hours, and performers tag-teaming the work included the composer John Cage, The Velvet Underground\u2019s John Cale, David Tudor, Christian Wolff and David Del Tredici. John Cage had spearheaded the performance of his self-described musical forefather\u2019s work, insisting its premiere was \u201cnot only possible but essential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Different theories attempt to explain the creation of Vexations. Some posit that the 27-year-old Satie was mocking the piano exercises he was forced to do at the Conservatoire de Paris. Others explain it as his response to the end of his only romantic relationship – a six-month tryst with the painter Suzanne Valadon.<\/p>\n
Marilyn Nonken, the chair of NYU\u2019s Department of Music, led a team of mostly student players playing 35 repetitions of Vexations each, totalling 840 times. Their performance began at 6 am and was expected to end at 9 pm.<\/p>\n
Satie\u2019s score annotation explains above the piece, \u201cIt would be advisable to prepare oneself beforehand, in the deepest silence, by serious immobilities.\u201d Give it a try yourself.<\/p>\n