Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Erik Satie lived an eccentric life in fin de siècle Paris producing strange and provocative music. He influenced Modernists like Debussy and Les Six and worked with Cocteau and Picasso on theatrical works and early film. He was also a kind of prophet who foreshadowed elements of postmodernism and American experimentalism. Today his Gymnopodies are widely heard on TV and radio while all 840 repetitions of his Vexations are often staged at marathon concerts across the world. Learn about this strange man and his music that reaches both far into the past and far into the future simultaneously.
What will we cover?
explore the biography of this composer
study the social and political background to his works
find out how his music was received and how it influenced others
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand Satie’s biography and cultural context in Paris
Understand Satie’s music in relation to Modernism
Familiar with Satie’s most important works
Be aware of the importance of Satie to John Cage and other Experimentalists
Understand Satie’s on-going influence for New Simplicity composers like Laurence Crane.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge of the subject is required. You do not need to read music to take this course (although we will look at music notation and scores occasionally). Some experience thinking and talking about movements in art and culture in 20th and 21st century would be useful but not necessary.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study. Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes. You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a wide range of Music history courses. For more information, visit our Guide to the Music history programme. You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.
Edward is a composer who studied at Cambridge and Trinity Laban. He teaches composition and music history at City Lit, Morley College and Trinity Laban Junior Department, and writes about music for The Wire (UK) and Positionen (Germany). His latest work includes a commission for the London Contemporary Music Festival 2024. Previous significant work includes “Flower” (recorded by the BBC at the Aldeburgh Festival 2019 and broadcast on the New Music Show), “One Two” (Cologne 2022), Will (Oslo and Cambridge), “Hold” (Huddersfield 2017), and “Tape Piece” ( LCMF 2015). Since 2013 Ed has worked with Bastard Assignments curating, performing and contributing work to regular shows in London and internationally. Their performances at Southbank Centre (2016) and Wellcome Collection (2017) were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and they have featured in articles in the Guardian, Telegraph, Financial Times, Frieze, and Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. In 2024 a profile on the group, “Family Dynamics,” was broadcast in Germany. They have been commissioned for a large scale performance in Norway, Denmark and London in 2025 and 2026, and “House” for Musik Installationen Nürnberg in 2025.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/erik-satie-an-introduction-to-his-music2802714Erik Satie: an introduction to his musichttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/r/erik_satie_an_introduction_to_his_music_-md041a-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history/Courses/New courses228513141351136317431228513141351<p>Explore the music of Eric Satie and find out how he influenced other composers</p>002629254Erik Satie: an introduction to his music149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/e/r/erik_satie_an_introduction_to_his_music_-md041a-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetNo longer available5-10 weeksWeekday2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2026Performing artsMD041A149149Erik Satie: an introduction to his music119104149Edward Hendersonerik-satie-an-introduction-to-his-music/md041a-2526<p>Explore the music of Eric Satie and find out how he influenced other composers</p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-04-21 00:00:00<p>Erik Satie lived an eccentric life in fin de siècle Paris producing strange and provocative music. He influenced Modernists like Debussy and Les Six and worked with Cocteau and Picasso on theatrical works and early film. He was also a kind of prophet who foreshadowed elements of postmodernism and American experimentalism. Today his Gymnopodies are widely heard on TV and radio while all 840 repetitions of his Vexations are often staged at marathon concerts across the world. Learn about this strange man and his music that reaches both far into the past and far into the future simultaneously. </p><p>Explore the music of Eric Satie and find out how he influenced other composers</p><ul><li>explore the biography of this composer</li><li>study the social and political background to his works</li><li>find out how his music was received and how it influenced others</li></ul><ol><li>Understand Satie’s biography and cultural context in Paris</li><li>Understand Satie’s music in relation to Modernism</li><li>Familiar with Satie’s most important works</li><li>Be aware of the importance of Satie to John Cage and other Experimentalists</li><li>Understand Satie’s on-going influence for New Simplicity composers like Laurence Crane.</li></ol><p>No prior knowledge of the subject is required. You do not need to read music to take this course (although we will look at music notation and scores occasionally). Some experience thinking and talking about movements in art and culture in 20th and 21st century would be useful but not necessary.</p><p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.</p><p>Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes.<br/>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.</p><p>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.<br/>You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.</p>MusicMusic historyvirtual119149104MD041ANONETue21/04/26 - 19/05/2613:30 - 15:3013:3015:305 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetEdward HendersonBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNo longer available2026-04-21T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026Performing arts149149Erik Satie: an introduction to his musicerik-satie-an-introduction-to-his-music/md041a-2526<p>Explore the music of Eric Satie and find out how he influenced other composers</p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-04-21 00:00:00<p>Erik Satie lived an eccentric life in fin de siècle Paris producing strange and provocative music. He influenced Modernists like Debussy and Les Six and worked with Cocteau and Picasso on theatrical works and early film. He was also a kind of prophet who foreshadowed elements of postmodernism and American experimentalism. Today his Gymnopodies are widely heard on TV and radio while all 840 repetitions of his Vexations are often staged at marathon concerts across the world. Learn about this strange man and his music that reaches both far into the past and far into the future simultaneously. </p><p>Explore the music of Eric Satie and find out how he influenced other composers</p><ul><li>explore the biography of this composer</li><li>study the social and political background to his works</li><li>find out how his music was received and how it influenced others</li></ul><ol><li>Understand Satie’s biography and cultural context in Paris</li><li>Understand Satie’s music in relation to Modernism</li><li>Familiar with Satie’s most important works</li><li>Be aware of the importance of Satie to John Cage and other Experimentalists</li><li>Understand Satie’s on-going influence for New Simplicity composers like Laurence Crane.</li></ol><p>No prior knowledge of the subject is required. You do not need to read music to take this course (although we will look at music notation and scores occasionally). Some experience thinking and talking about movements in art and culture in 20th and 21st century would be useful but not necessary.</p><p>Tutor presentation, guided listening, class discussion and debate, video and score study.<br/>Course materials will be shared via Google Classroom: handouts, scores, links to online audio and video, recommendations to encourage and support further reading and listening outside class.</p><p>Please bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes.<br/>You may also wish to purchase some of the music books or recordings discussed in class; links to these materials will be available after each session. You may also wish to attend live performances.</p><p>City Lit offers a wide range of <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history">Music history courses</a>. For more information, visit our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/music-history-your-guide-our-programme">Guide to the Music history programme</a>.<br/>You may also be interested in our Music theory and musicianship offer, or one of our many practical music courses.</p>MusicMusic historyconfigurable
13631351Music historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/performing-arts/music/music-history1/2/285/1314/1351/13631/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Music history
