For some people, Erik Satie is known as an eccentric who gave his works odd titles that seem almost derisive and ridicolous.

Many believe that this was not only a result of his bizarre wit but also a way of offending the music critics at the time. It was known that Satie didn’t like music critics and that the feelings were mutual.

Those performing his works are well aware of his weird instructions to the performer. The instructions are meant as a dialogue between the composer and the performer only.

Satie was also a collector. Once someone asked him what he wished for birthday present. He replied – I saw this beautiful handkerchief the other day…. After his death they found in his wardrobe 84 identical handkerchieves, besides 12 identical velvet costumes and dozens of umbrellas.

Satie was considered as an outsider, a lone wolf with projects of his own. For example he founded his own church. As a result he valued his privacy very highly and never let anyone see his apartment in Arceuil, where he lived for the last 27 years of his life. He only had one known relationship in his life – an intense love affair in 1893 with the model, painter and former trapeze artiste Suzanne Valadon.

Satie lived as a true artist, for his music and his ideals. He had no respect for money and lived a poor life for many years. He was never afraid of expressing his true opinion. If he found someone to be a jerk he made this perfectly clear (and took the consequence)

From furiousartisans.com/satie.html

“Gymnopedie No. 1″

“Vexations” – Satie’s instructions for this performing this piece was to play it 840 times.