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

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

1911

CHRONICLES OF BÉLA

BARTOK'S

LIFE

nothing he could do about an untalented pianist he recommended “we at the music academy - at least I - take admittance and marks very strictly”.

He is preparing to go to France for the summer.

23 June - He receives a letter of recommendation (No. 2520/elsz.) for a study trip from the Ministry of Religion and Public Education.

6 July

- He pays a visit to his cousin, Lajos Voit,

vacationing

in Zebegény.

8 July

- Earthquake in Kecskemét,

well

perceivable even in Rákoskeresztúr.

In the evening - after two postponements - he leaves for France. Just like during all of his previous Paris trips, he stops in Munich.

9 July

- From here he writes a postcard to his mother in St. Ruprecht, to his sister in Szilad

and

to Mrs Bu§i|ia in Belényes.

11 July

- He arrives in Paris. He stays in room No. 40 of Grand Hotel des Voyageurs (93

Bd Strassbourg). He pays 46.39 francs for a stay of 12 days. Here he receives his mothers disapproving letter: “...you are restless and wanting to go on travelling”.

He writes Frederick Delius in Grez that he wishes to visit him on the 14th or on the 15th.

Bluebeards Castle was completed just before his journey. In Rákoskeresztúr his

wife is copying industriously the arrangement for piano that is to be forwarded to him, but on 15 July she writes to Paris that “It is impossible to send the bluebeard that fast”.

This is the time when Schoenbergs Harmonielehre

makes

its appearance. Among its relatively few references to contemporary music Bartok figures twice. This is an indication of the long awaited start of his international recognition.

16 July

- Bartok watches the matinee of the Comédie-Française.

18 July

- Mrs Bartok writes to Paris: “I send the Bluebeard in todays mail, I finished it after all”, then learning about Bartoks plan to travel on, she notifies him in her letter of the 19th: “The score is on its way to Paris, it will be wonderful if you don’t get it. Shall I send the translation?”

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