| Content | The letter is written by the whole Novák family - Jan, Eliška and their daughters Dora and Clara. They write to Eugene Zámečník as well as to other friends and acquaintances about how they have been doing in recent months. They have been living in Italy for fourteen months, eleven of which have been at Lake Garda. In the adult members of the family the pulling instincts are appearing, as outcasts they find nowhere to stand, but with regard to the children they repress it. Both children are excellent in Italian, DN is older and has more difficult material in school, CN is the best in class in Italian. Both girls attend ballet classes, CN is also learning English. Unfortunately they are both failing piano and have recently had measles. EN is studying a programme of Czech piano music - Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Vítězslav Novák and Bedřich Smetana. Unfortunately, some of the business and music projects did not materialize because in Italy more is said and promised than done. EN takes care of all family members with care and exemplary care. JN is a teacher and composer, and has just completed Orpheus et Euridice. He is also involved in the organisation of the Festa Latina, which is due to take place in Rovereto at Easter. The following is a list of the works that JN has composed since the end of May 1970, and for some of them he adds information on where these works can be obtained. One of the works is Duo Fragmenta for alto and string quartet to words by Renata Pandulová. Those interested in his works should contact the Zanibon [Liberia Musicale Zanibon] company in Padua. An earlier work, Exercitia Mythologica, has just been published by Schott Music in Mainz. He mentions the poem Furens Tympanotriba, which was also awarded in a competition and published by the Royal Academy [Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten], but unfortunately could not be sent to friends in the homeland because of its obscene content. They hope that this will soon be possible. At the end of the letter they wish a Merry Christmas and give their address. |