Satie, Erik. (1866-1925)
La diva de l'Empire
Paris: Rouart, Lerolle & Cie.. 1919. First edition for piano. Intermezzo Américain d'après la célèbre chanson de Bonnaud, Blès et Satie. Arrangé pour piano / par Hans Ourdine. Illustrated wrappers, 4 pp., plus "Specimen" of "Rag-Time Parade" on inner rear cover. 27 x 35 cm. Edges chipped, repaired losses along spine and repaired tear on rear cover, the illustration remaining bright and clean. The possibility has been raised that the striking cover illustration may have been executed by Satie himself. The espagnole figure, the red and the black colors, the degree of abstraction are all very much influenced by Goncharova, who was in Paris at the time and was a close friend of Satie's.La Diva de l'Empire was originally written for voice and piano, for Paulette Darty, "Queen of the Slow Waltz." and published in 1904. But it was the transcription for solo piano by Hans Ourdine that made the work famous. La Diva was not a "waltz chantee," Darty's typical repertoire, but a cakewalk song, with a strutting rhythm. Using a moderate march tempo, the music depicts a diva of Napoleon's time; however, Satie later gave it the humorous subtitle, "American intermezzo." (5796)
Printed Music Classical Music