"building a theory" of furniture music, (Toop's description, 198) Satie writes "I imagine it to be melodious, softening the clatter of knives and forks without dominating them, without imposing itself. It would fill up the awkward silence that occasionally descends on guests. It would spare them the usual commonplaces. At the same time it would neutralize the street noises that tactlessly force themselves into the picture."