Erik Satie was the composer of the Gymnopedies, a series of three piano compositions. Satie was a French composer and pianist who lived from 1866 to 1925. He was a leading figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde movement and is best known for his unique musical style which combined elements of minimalism, surrealism, and dadaism. The Gymnopedies are some of his most famous works and are characterized by their sparse, melancholic melodies.