Erik Satie (1866–1925), French composer and pianist, is best known for his solo piano pieces, including the Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes, and Nocturnes. The tendency toward extreme simplicity in his music influenced his contemporaries Debussy {see planet  (4492)}, Poulenc and Ravel {see planet  (4727)}, and later in America, John Cage. (M 41568) _ _.