All six known Nocturnes by Satie and three versions of the seventh were well received in the Brighton Festival on Saturday (15th May). The performers, Robert Orledge, Michael Parsons and I, played a mixed programme including John Cage, Charles Koechlin, Gabriel Fauré, Howard Skempton, and Michael Parsons. The 7th Nocturne is published by SOUNDkiosk and is available on the SOUNDkiosk website: http://www.soundkiosk.com/soundstore.htm

One week to the latest SOUNDkiosk concert: Erik Satie and the Nocturne Jamie Crofts Michael Parsons Robert Orledge piano All six of Erik Satie's published Nocturnes and three new versions of the 7th completed from Satie's notes by Robert Orledge, James Nye and Jamie Crofts. More music by Michael Parsons, John Cage, Gabriel Fauré, Charles Koechlin and Howard Skempton. Friends' Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, 15th May, 7.30pm

I'm working with the idea that abstract music is a music with an absence of song, dance or narrative. The music which is occupying me the most is a series of Chromatic Fields. There are now 51 pieces with the title Chromatic Field. All for piano, most of them consist of every note of the piano played only once (with a repeat). That's 88 notes x 2. The delightful irony of this approach is that there are lingering residues of song and dance. If melody is the material of song and rhythm is the material of dance, is it ever possible to escape both at any one time? Actually it is, but you have to work at it. Here's one on Youtube:

Preparations are underway for the SOUNDkiosk Brighton Festival concert. With the title Erik Satie and the Nocturne it features all 6 published Nocturnes and the world premiere of 3 versions of the 7th Nocturne. These have been completed from Satie's notebooks by Robert Orledge, Jamie Crofts and James Nye. 15th May 2010, Friends' Meeting House, Brighton at 7.30pm