About the piece
It belongs to the Trois Gymnopédies Satie published in 1888. The score is marked Lent et grave, “slow and grave”.
As in the first, the left hand alternates a bass note and a chord while the melody flows slowly above; Debussy orchestrated it in 1897.
How to practise it
- The left-hand jump between bass and chord is the only real difficulty: practise it alone.
- Legato, singing melody, slightly louder than the chords.
- With the pedal, connect the bass to the chord and change it every bar.
- If you already know No. 1, this will feel familiar: the pattern is the same.
Free sheet music
First page. Complete sheet music (PDF) on the Mutopia Project (public domain, edition by Evin Robertson); in the Piano Learning app you read it two pages side by side while you play.
Frequently asked questions
How is it different from No. 1?
The pattern is similar, but No. 3 is in a minor mode and darker in character.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes, it is slow and has few notes, like No. 1.