I remember “Crown Court” from home-dinners days, but had forgotten they used Sinfonietta for the theme music. It was one of the first pieces my brother studied at music college, and I loved it as soon as I heard it.

Do you remember the courtroom drama they used to have on ITV daytime called “Crown Court”? They used the 4th movement of Janacek’s Sinfonietta as their theme music. Every time I hear the Sinfonietta, I am reminded of my school holdays.

I know what you mean about Satie, but I think that’s part of the appeal – the joyous amateurishness – reminds me a bit of the paintings of Henri Rousseau. Sort of crude, but with a not-trying-to-be-what-it-isn’t integrity. And so quirky & different to anything else you can think of (except for later imitations, of course). I love the Gnossiennes too.

When I hear Satie’s music I sometimes find myself baffled by his continuing endurance. So much of what he wrote betrays a kind of amateurishness. And yet in the Gymnopedies and the Gnossiennes among other things, there is music that is quite remarkable and like nothing else that had been written before (but has obviously been much imitated since). I think the second Gymnopedie may be my favourite too, or the third.

I also agree with your choices though I prefer Plainview to Wilkolak mostly due to the prose. We Are Two Lions – though enjoyable – was indeed the lesser of the crop. The student wanting to conquer the master assassin idea is a much trodden path and the homosexual relationship didn’t succeed in elevating this approach and felt a bit like exploitation, tacked on to spice it up.