Satie was an eccentric individual whose composing ventured beyond the music of his time. A fantasy lover and one whose humorous references to himself, his music and other composers, he was said to be a forerunner of modern music. His compositions can be roughly divided into three types: compositions for pianos, songs, and music for stage productions. His most famous piece is probably Socrate written early in his life. His piano pieces are also considered very good. He was a man who encouraged young composers for they are the future of music. But I agree with one reviewer who said, "It helps to have an excellent understanding of late classical music from 1850-1920." This may be because it would help readers understand why he was often criticized. In addition, he lived in his own musical world. Nevertheless, I found this a most interesting read. He was a fascinatingly brilliant man.

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