Off-topic I fear, but what do you think of Novak's string quartets, piano
trios, violin sonata, cello sonata, and piano quintet? (I've heard one of
the string quartets (#3), the violin sonata (there may be more than one-
I know one from an LP, violin by Suk the younger), the cello sonata (from
the LP coupled with the 3rd quartet), the piano quintet (heard once, on the
radio, and much enjoyed), the second of the two piano trios (no one records
the first, afaik; pity), and perhaps some other things as well.  He was at
least as much at home in chamber music as in such fine works as the Marysa
overture with its wonderful secondary theme, and didn't (to my ears) make
the mistake of writing orchestrally for smaller forces as some indeed do -
to each medium its potential (though I love composers' musics who write
various-chambergroups for large orchestra, too.(some Brian, some Mahler,
...) If you haven't heard these works, do at least consider the possibility
that Novak's music is not forever and always overloaded with instrumental
bloat:)

(Though based on what Walter Simmons- I think!- had to say about a poor
performance of De Profundis on another label when it was rereleased back
in '95 or so, I still want to hear it all the same in this probably better
Chandos recording; his review suggested a fine piece sunk by a horrid
performance.  Now I'll just have to hear for myself and reconcile
apparently slightly opposing opinions...)

-Eric Schissel
http://www.lightlink.com/schissel ICQ#7279016