A musical tribute in Newtown

A CENTURY after the death of French composer Erik Satie, a special winter concert in Newtown will honour his legacy through music and poetry.

Titled Wintering, the concert will take place on Friday, July 4 at 7.30pm at All Saints Anglican Church in Noble Street, and will bring together some of the region’s most accomplished performers.

Audiences will hear three of Satie’s most popular works – Gymnopédie No.1, Gnossienne No.4 and Gnossienne No.2 — alongside pieces by Claude Debussy and contemporary Geelong composer Michael Hannan, whose own work pays homage to Satie’s Gymnopédie No.3.

Satie’s compositions are known for their emphasis on atmosphere and are defined by simplicity, repetition and unconventional harmonies. Defying the traditional forms of his time, his works often embraced playfulness and parody and paved the way for the avant-garde in music.

“This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of this somewhat eccentric composer,” Jane Bashiruddin, a spokesperson for the concert, said of Satie, whose works are considered a precursor to the minimalist movement and renowned for their influence on French composers of the early 20th century.

“This concert is extra special, as one of the performers is Frank De Rosso, the artistic director of Music at the Basilica.

“Local poet Rosemary Blake will read her own poems, many of which have been published both here and abroad.

“Frank and Rosemary will be joined by Suzanne Moodie on flute and Sonoka Miyake on piano.”

Both Moodie and Miyake will be familiar to local classical music lovers, with both performing at concerts across the region and further afield, the former as part of the Sonus Ensemble and the Geelong Symphony Orchestra.

“Refreshment will be served after the concert, and I’m pleased to say that All Saints will be nicely heated,” Ms Bashiruddin said.

For more information, head to musicatthebasilica.org.au, or to purchase tickets, head to trybooking.com/CZSPJ