Erik Satie Essentials

Some call Erik Satie the godfather of ambient music; however, he referred to his style as “furniture music,” or pieces that were meant to be played in the background. Perfect for any occasion, the French composer's work—built on the styles of the avant-garde French Impressionist masters Debussy and Ravel—features oscillating harmonies and delicate, improvisational melodies. From whimsical waltzes to melancholy piano studies—all the rage in Parisian homes and salons in the 1910s—his atmospheric compositions conjure a transcendent, timeless space.