satinette | FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

March 28th, 1850

To the sharp-witted Joseph Lavigne with his even sharper pen,

I will let myself flatter that a musician of such high esteem as you has formed an opinion, and a very public one as well, on my portrait of Mlle. Dubois, soon to be Mme. Daniel Lavigne, but still not weighed down by the shackles of her married name. You must think this poor girl hideous, otherwise you surely would not complain that her shoulders in my painting are bare, her nightgown wrinkled or the bed in the background unmade, as if she has only just risen. These are the liberties of a motif, of course, be it visual or musical. We may imagine whatever we would like. This was what I imagined. Your brother, I feel certain, would agree with my fancy. Do ask him and let me know his answer along with your own.

Respectfully,
Satine Lafaye

April 2nd, 1850

To the good, no, to the best monsieur Lavigne,

O, to imagine that we should meet before you were able to compose a reply to my friendly admonishment. Your luck, I will say, and my misfortune, for you would surely have written me something awful and harsh, but they would have been your words and I was quite smitten with your turn of phrase the other night. This is not an admittance of infatuation, no need for alarm, because it is true what they say of me, that I feel no greater repulsion than for a man in his evening wear, except perhaps for a man out of it.

No, I write in essence to compliment you on the dainty, little waltz you played on M. Abbadie's fortepiano to everyone's delight, mine included. And to thank you for the dance you offered me, although I declined for the same reasons as stated above. If I cannot wear them myself, trousers and vests are a right offense. Wear a gown next time, my little Josephine, and I might reconsider.

What I ask you to consider is this: I have heard you lack funds and you may have heard, I'm a Marie Antoinette-like figure of wealth and distaste. If you can see beyond the distaste, however, I shall gladly share with you my riches and become your patroness. Put my name to your next waltz and it shall be so. I would consider it your birthday present to me and it would delight me just as much.

With the greatest admiration,
Satine Lafaye

April 15th, 1850

To my dear composer,

This very morning, I received your sheet music for my little waltz and it is indeed very little and nevertheless, such a grand gesture. I shall look forward to hearing you perform it, next time we meet, if nothing else you will soon be invited to my apartment where my piano is awaiting your hands. Let them talk, then, of whom you dedicate your music to. Let them talk.

Let them talk of the thrilling tempo you strike in this piece as well. O, just looking at the lilt of your notes took my breath away, they're pure artwork, but were you in a hurry, my dear Josephine? Did you rush for my sake? I will call this waltz the "Mademoiselle Lafaye Flees From Trousers And Vests" and we shall both get the joke, surely.

I am certain that were you playing this waltz as accompaniment, I would escape the barbaric clutches of men in perfect time. As such, we shall stand a united front against the Vulgar which does not originate with us, as they say. For we know what they say, do we not?

I would rather listen a thousand times to my little waltz than to their gossip. So, come. Play for me.

Yours, devotedly,
Satine