Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)

Settling In Budapest. Systematic Collection of Folk Songs (1907–1913)

SETTLING IN BUDAPEST. SYSTEMATIC

COLLECTION OF FOLK SONGS ( 1 907-1 91 3)

1911

postcard that now he will withdraw to the mountains, and on the 12th he leaves the guesthouse.

14 April

- He writes Bu§i|ia from Frascati that on the shore of lake Nemi

he made a note of a folk song, which reminded him of some Romanian songs.

Returning home he fell ill again with a fever. In the meantime he is entertaining the idea of forming a New Hungarian Music Society [Translators note: ‘

Üj Magyar

Zene

Egyesület’ will

be referred to as UMZE.].

15 April

- The draft programme regarding this is published in the Zeneközlöny (Music

Journal) by Sándor

Kovács. Bartok

sends membership recruiting sheets to several of his acquaintances, with rather poor results.

27 April

- In his letter he gives advice to János

Bu§i|ia

concerning the piano studies of Mrs Bu§i|ia.

He is winding up his Budapest flat around these days.

3 May

- He moves to the summer resort (later Rákoshegy)

of

the community of Rákoskeresztúr

first

known through the Vecseys. His address is: 3 Jókai

Street.

(Bartok writes mistakenly 2 for house number in some instances.)

13 May

- A Liszt commemoration is held in Szeged. Bartok plays Piano Concerto in E flat major, Sándor

Fichtner

conducting. Encore: Rumanian Dances.

18 May

- Concert of the artistic group the “Eights” at the Budapest National Salon. Bartok presents the Four Dirges and Three Burlesques, besides he plays Kodály

’

s Cello

Sonata with Jenő

Kerpely.

22 May - The Department of Tax Accountancy of District 6 disabled his salary up to the sum of 40 K (crowns) and 80 f (fillérs)

with

its ruling No. 404/1912, due to “poverty fund contribution” not having been paid, then on the 24th the disablement was lifted.

12 June

- From Budapest he writes his uncle, Géza

Bartok

that there is 129