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

War Years (1914–1919)

WAR YEARS (1914-1919)

1918

Between 10 and 14 July - From harvesting young girls he collects 90 folk songs, among which 25 new melodies and many marching songs.

14/15 July (with double dating) - He writes a longish letter to his wife in Rákoskeresztúr; he

lets her know gladly that his weight went from 46 kilograms to 49 kilograms in 10 days, despite the provision difficulties present even there. As far as his health goes he feels fine, he is doing gymnastics regularly.

He is preparing to go to Belényes

on

the 20th, but upon Bu§i|ias request he sets out already on the 18th.

19 July - He arrives in Belényes,

from

where they cannot yet proceed.

21 July - Mr and Mrs Kodály

arrive

in Belényes

on

their way to Biharfüred

- due to difficulties in travelling further, they spend the night at the Bu§i|ias’. Later Bartok visits them in Biharfüred.

23 July - From Belényes

Bartok

writes his wife in Rákoskeresztúr

(based

on the contents the letter might have been written on the 24th, with a mistaken dating): they would finally set out for the alps in the evening. They go on horseback with Bu§i|ia, taking along also a spare horse and all the necessary food and paraffin. Their destination is Ponor

(last

post Józsikafalva)

of

Kolozs county. - Their collecting tour lasts for about 2 weeks.

8 August - He is in Gödöllő,

probably

on business regarding his flat.

15 August - He sets out on his last Hungarian collecting tour, going to Felsőszászberek puszta (Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county)

belonging to the community Besenyszög

in

the middle of Hungary, where he is guest of big landowner Count Adolf Kohner.

In

the fifth year of the world war, here life is still made comfortable by “lordly splendour”, white gloved valets, refined dishes, and real black coffee. Bartoks interest is in the collecting, of course. He is collecting with good results partly from the servants of the Kohners,

partly

from the tót

harvesters. One song from Kisülés

(Bars

county) also figures in this collection, presumably also obtained here.

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