Joseph Everett asks:

>Also, to avoid insomnia for a night, I must know: Is "Vexations" played,
>or supposed to be played, 840 times in succession (this comes from Satie's
>notes to the performer)?

Yes, as Virginia Knight says.  Last year the Musee d'Orsay in Paris
organized an almost 24hour-marathon in their tea-rooms.  Satie requested
the 1'20 piece "Vexations" be played 840 times non-stop whilst meals were
served consisting of only white food.  They did it, thanks to a relay of
24 musicians.  The food served: cream of cauliflower and delicate chicken
breasts, perch fillets cooked with a little dry white vermouth, gourmet
bitter-almond blancmange and white coffee.  In French: creme de chou-fleur
et volaille raffinee, filet de perche au Noilly, gourmand blanc manger a
l'amande amere, cafe blanc.  It took 19hours 15mins - 1'20 x 840 = 18 hrs
40mns but as a friend remarked "Oh, an hour or so doesn't make much
difference.  The same applies to "The Ring""...

It was possibly to watch the whole procedure on the internet - and also to
download the score.

Regards,

Christine Labroche