Noctave
The piece
The three Gymnopédies were published in 1888, their title referring to dances of ancient Greece. The first carries Satie's own marking, "Lent et douloureux" (slow and sorrowful), and rests on the steady sway of two chords beneath a melody that seems to float. The original is in D major; this easy version, written for Noctave from the first section, is transposed to C and pares the accompaniment down to one bass note and one chord per bar.
The left hand starts alone: a low note, then a chord held for two beats, alternating between F and C. These opening bars set the tempo, 72 beats per minute, and you should keep it steady when the melody comes in. In the right hand, the tune starts on E, rises to G, then drifts slowly down. Several notes are tied across the bar line; count all three beats before playing the next note. Aim for a singing right hand, slightly louder than the chords, and let the final chord fade out under its fermata.