To bring this week to a close we hear a beautiful arrangement of Erik Satie's Gymnopédie No 1 performed by guitarists Roxane Elfasci and Baptiste Erard. The work is part of a new album, 'Poésie Française', by Elfasci which releases today that features the music of late Romantic French composers in arrangements for guitar - some, like the Gymnopédie, that have not been heard before.

Written in 1888 at a time when Erik Satie's popularity was waning, the Gymnopédie No 1 (of a set of 3) is a near perfect of example of French impressionism in music. Just like the vivd colours and broad brush stokes of a Monet, the seemingly simple chords of the Gymnopédie No 1 bleed into each other creating this hazy dream-like sound world. The title refers to the ancient Spartan festival Gymnopaedia where the men of the army would take part in naked dancing and singing - celebrating Spartan military victories! 

Poésie Française is out now and can be heard below via Apple Music