Sound Wash Under a Waterfall

Sound Wash Under a Waterfall is an adaptation of two separate works by Erik Satie: Gymnopedie no. 1 and Gnossienne no. 1. These tranquil, meditative pieces have been some of my favorite pieces of "classical" music for years. To me, they evoke imagery of natural white noise. If you've ever been near rushing water like rapids or a waterfall, you know that it's a tenacious, almost overwhelming sound. If you stay long enough, it almost mutes your sense of hearing, and your other senses are heightened. When I was a kid, my family went to DeSoto State Park for Spring Break every year. Near the lodge, there was a small, 15-foot or so waterfall that you could walk behind. My friends and I would often make the hike down there to sit behind it in the small cavern. This piece is a great tool for teaching nontraditional phrasing and reinforcing lyrical playing techniques. It can be played with two players on parts 1-3 and one confident player on part 4.