In January and February 2026 I spent three weeks alone at a cottage in the hills above Kaimuki in Honolulu. I was escaping the New York City winter and having a retreat with my electric cello. On the first morning the birds outside were so loud, so lush, and so insistent, that I began imitating them with short melodic cello fragments. The birds did not care. But they also did not stop singing. So I kept playing and it turned into a two-week engagement.

After about fifty years of listening to the music of Erik Satie in many guises and in many contexts, I decided to give it a whirl on the cello. It flowed, and along with the birds it was something that I wanted others to hear. I recorded and mixed four pieces, filmed some images with my phone, and released the resulting EP and video two weeks after that first morning.

The result is here, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening.

Blake

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SATIE ET LES OISEAUX

1. Gnossienne 1 et Les Oiseaux
2. Gnossienne 3 et Les Oiseaux
3. Gymnopedie 3 et Les Oiseaux
4. Vexations et Les Oiseaux

All music composed by Erik Satie, 1890 at Montmartre

Arranged , performed, & produced by Blake Leyh, January 22nd to February 3rd 2026 at Wilhelmina Rise, O’ahu.

BIRDSONG by Red Junglefowl, Spotted Dove, Common Myna, Red-Vented Bulbul, White-Rumped Shama, Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Rose-Ringed Parakeet, & Northern Cardinal, recorded simultaneously with the cello.

THANKS to Asako Gladsjo, Aiko Leyh, Ryoko Leyh, Melanie Ide, Christiaan Kuypers, George King, and Corey Tong.

Record Tracklist