Favorite simplistic yet elegant composition?

Out of curiosity, I'd like to know what pieces you find beautiful and/or elegant yet remains very simple in notation.

For example, one of my favorite pieces of all time is Erik Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1.

Not much more to say besides, what's your favorite? :)

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note: if this turns into a argument thread, somehow, a lightning bolt will come from the sky and kill you.

i love satie's gnossenies. favourite? i think it's fourth, if i remember correctly. so alive and straight to the point.

Ralph Vaughan-Williams's "The Lark Ascending" and John Adams's "The Dharma at Big Sur" tie for this one. :D

I don;t know what you mean by "notation", so I'll just say the Mozart piano concertos (..the good ones)

The second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto is incredibly beautiful yet is possibly easier than some of the orchestra parts.

Grieg's "Evening in the Mountains," Op.68 No.4.

Score here: Lyric Pieces, Op.68 (Grieg, Edvard) - IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library: Free Public Domain Sheet Music

Deceptively simple, yet immensely modern for his time.

I find Hildegard von Bingen's music especially beautiful. I am not an expert in Music Palaeography so the simplicity of the notation is a bit uncertain...

Moon Indigo by Duke the Ellington

Variations for Piano by Anton Webern. ♥

Lera Auerbach's Preludes

Prelude in C for Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach

Simple. Elegant. Yeah, baby!

Ravel - Piano Concerto in G, 2nd Mov

Gorecki - Symphony No.3 (the entire sym, the score looks like written by a kindergarden child, nevertheless is very beautiful)

Beethoven - Pathetic Sonata 2nd Mov

Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" quartet, 2nd movement, main theme (and variations!)--very simple, very moving...

As a runner up, I'd suggest Haydn's opus 76 quartets, no. 2, 2nd movement--the Emperor's Hymn (a.k.a. German national anthem/ church hymn in a dozen different faiths...). This is a very simple theme, but very moving. Again, a theme and variations...

Another runner up, Beethoven symphony no. 7, 2nd movement.

John Cage - In a Landscape

My go-to: Lonely Woman

Goodbye Porkpie Hat's pretty nasty too.

What about 4'33"? :D

No, I'm not starting that debate again. But it works.

Morton Feldman - Palais de Mari

I find Hildegard von Bingen's music especially beautiful. I am not an expert in Music Palaeography so the simplicity of the notation is a bit uncertain...

I was lucky to study briefly with a musicologist that specializes in Hildegard's music. We had to learn and sing O pastor in class! Great music, and Hildegard is such an interesting character.

Eric Whitacre- Lux Arumque

Beethoven- 5th piano concerto 2nd movement

Beethoven - Pathetic Sonata 2nd Mov

Haha. PRETTY sure it's not "Pathetic Sonata" :D

Also, "The Swan" from Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals and Arvo Prt's "Fur Alina" and "Spiegel im Spiegel" are some of my favourites that haven't been mentioned.

Lol @ The Pathetic Sonata. That would be a horrible name for a piece :P

Tom Waits - No One Knows I'm Here

The B section from Chopin's Funeral March. Simple, but very moving.

Maybe not a full fledged concert piece... but simple and powerful?

The Joker's Theme from the movie The Dark Knight.

"Zelda's lullaby" from the Zelda games.

Lol @ The Pathetic Sonata. That would be a horrible name for a piece :P

is it "Pathetic", "Pathetique" "Pat