Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
War Years (1914–1919)
1917 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 15 March - He has to present himself in Gödöllő at yet another conscription of recruits previously exempt; he is found unsuitable again. 19 March - He gives her mother an account of counting on a premiere for The Wooden Prince by the end of April, he also mentions the conscription, and asks her to send him tobacco because he needs it badly during the rehearsals at the Opera House. 20 March - He goes to the Kodálys ’. 21 March - From Rákoskeresztúr he writes his wife that he is copying pages 112 to 150 of the orchestral score, and it is very interesting work “to explore again the tiniest recesses of the score”. To his mother he writes: “Don’t berate Tango, he is the finest conductor I have ever worked with. ... he proved to be excellent so far...” 25 March - On his 36th birthday he copies 7 pages of the orchestral score, so 159 pages are completed. 27 March - From Rákoskeresztúr in a letter to his wife he enumerates the names of his 12 private pupils. He notifies her, that, due to lack of coal, he is moving in with the Kodálys for 10 days, where he will check the parts of the ballet, then travel to collect yet more marching songs. 28 March - He goes out once more to Rákoskeresztúr after a visit with the Kodálys, but already writes his mother: “I will escape from lack of coal to Zoltán s place starting with the 30th”. 31 March - He moves to the Kodálys ’ flat at 11 Áldás Street for 10 days to correct the parts of The Wooden Prince. He writes his wife about being vexed a lot with the Opera House, while still maintaining friendly relations with Tango. “Imagine, they will make a xylophone with a keyboard in order to make easier the playing of these complicated’ modern xylophone parts. Of violas they’ve got only 6 instead of 12!!! ... What misery ...” 4 April - He writes his son Béla in Doboz, that the ballet will be presented at the end of April and he would be glad if young Béla saw it, too. - Bartok gets a variola vaccination on this day. To his wife he gives 168
