Erik Satie: 'Je te veux' (flute & guitar)

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Erik Satie's little period waltz from 1902 is played here on the flute and guitar. The piece was composed for the singer Paulette Darty whom Satie had accompanied for some time. The words (erotic for the time) are by Henry Facory. Satie composed various versions of the waltz: for piano and voice, for an orchestra of brass instruments, and for full orchestra (including a trio).

Alfred Eric Leslie Satie was born in Honfleur in 1866 and died in Paris in 1925. His French father and Scottish mother were both composers. After studying for a year at the Paris Conservatoire, he played in cabarets before spending 3 years with Schola Cantorum, a largely religious-based school founded by d'Indy and others. He adopted a defiantly modernistic style and attached whimsical titles to his compositions.
Both Debussy and Ravel encouraged him (Debussy by orchestrating the first and third 'Gymnopédie') and in the 1920's he helped found, along with Cocteau, 'le Groupe des Six', which included Honegger, Milhaud and Poulenc.
Through Picasso he got to know Braque with whom he shared several projects. Following the break-up of his relationship with the painter, Suzanne Valadon (the mother of Maurice Utrillo), he composed his "Vexations" -a short melody to be played 840 times after a period of silent preparation. The work lasts about 20 hours and has been performed by John Cage, Thomas Bloch and others.
Satie died alone and in dire poverty, with his collection of umbrellas and his 7 identical mustard coloured velvet suits.

(Having a French father and Scottish mother, Satie today might have been perplexed by Brexit and the ruthless deceptions that those self-serving politicos responsible for our well-being practised on us when pushing us into so terrible a trap. No question that the cultural divide between our nations is far narrower than the post Brexit politico-philosophical abyss, with all its bitterness and bickering...).


What has the UK lost by leaving Erasmus+?

("Erasmus" is an acronym for European Region Action Scheme )

Following Brexit, withdrawing from Erasmus+ has already had negative consequences for students, young professionals, scholars, and universities in the U.K.. The cultural and intellectual consequences of the decision are obvious. Thousands of students can no longer experience other cultures, learn to communicate in other languages, or strengthen their sense of European identity through Erasmus+.
Many Erasmus+ alumni regard the experience as one of the most formative in their lives, having led to career changes, relocation, and even marriages. These opportunities are no longer available to many in the U.K., particularly those that already come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The loss of the program also severs key partnerships between European and British researchers and universities, limiting intellectual collaboration across the channel. The consequences of the decision for career growth also are significant.

According to the latest Erasmus+ annual report, the program has been successful in many ways:

*In 2019 alone, almost 1 million young people participated in the program as students, trainees (largely for vocational training) or volunteered at more than 100,000 organizations.

*Employers regarded Erasmus+ exchange participants as better equipped to enter the workforce.

*Over two-thirds of students report had a better sense of their long-term career goals after profiting from study abroad through Erasmus+.
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When asked whether President Macron of France is a friend or foe of the UK, Liz Truss (current favourite for UK's premiership) replied:
'The jury's out'. She amplified this with: 'I'll judge him on deeds, not words'.

(Comment: will she also appoint herself his executioner--perhaps by guillotine?).

The President responded: 'The British people are a friend and strong ally, despite their leaders and the small mistakes these make when speaking in public...if we can't distinguish between a friend and an enemy, we're in for serious problems'.

Mr Johnson tried to 'right the boat' with:
'Emmanuel (Macron) est un très bon buddy de notre pays...he is a great fan of our country.'

Prime Minister Johnson's earlier aspersion on French people has passed into political literature of the most tasteless kind:

Lacking 'les mots justes' (the right words),
He classified all Frenchmen "turds".
Using small condoms as a trick
To measure the Italian 'dick'.