Review

Erik Satie
Sports et Divertissements:

Arranged by Charles Decker

2 B-flat trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Satie (1886-1925) has long been known as much for his many eccentricities, including the titles of his pieces, as for his music; but he was an influential figure for French composers of the next generation, especially Les Six.

Sports et Divertissements (Sports and Pastimes) were written for piano in 1914. The nine selections included here comprise Unappetising Chorale, In a Swing, Commedia Del ‘Arte, Carnival, Fishing, The Octopus, Picnic, Puss In The Corner, and The Tango-Endless. Directions include Slow, ponderous and Moderately with great boredom. All are short, between 11 - 28 measures, not counting a repeat section in the Tango. All are given in the key of C major, but may end anywhere from a unison C to the middle of nowhere.

Trumpet 1 goes up to c-sharp² and some of its part looks quite challenging. The other parts are of moderate difficulty. The overall range of the trombone part, given throughout in bass clef, is E-e¹. Not taking these pieces too seriously is their whole point; they are meant to be fun to play, and it should be possible to raise at least a chuckle from an appreciative audience.

Charles Decker was the trumpet professor at Tennessee Tech University from 1981 to 2016. His many published arrangements have been widely performed.