Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
After World War I (1920–1921)
AFTER WORLD WAR I (1 920-1 921) 1920 2 July - He writes an article for the Musical Courier, which would be published on 19 August entitled “ Kodály s New Trio a Sensation Abroad”. 10 July - He travels with his wife and little son to his sister’s in Kertmeg Puszta. They spend the whole summer there. 22 August - From Kertmeg he writes Géza Révész in Rostock, also mentioning the newspaper debate of May - “If you knew what a tempest you sowed handing over the Hunyad folk music article to Einstein!” - and Kodály having been re-engaged as professor. - To Milos Ruppeldt in Pozsony he writes that he was unable to meet the April invitation due to lack of an entry permit. If his wife manages to get to Pozsony, they could negotiate with her. 26 August - His son attends an entrance exam at the grammar school, so he travels to Budapest with his mother, Bartok stays on in Kertmeg for a while. 3 September - He accompanies his sister taking two of her children to a boarding school for the continuation of their studies in Debrecen. From Debrecen he writes a postcard to his wife in Budapest. 4 September - He returns to Kertmeg. 6 September - He returns home to Budapest. - On the way he stops in Gyoma and walks to the Kner printery. 13 September - He writes a letter to Hermann Scherchen: “ I cannot compose for the time being, unfortunately cant even collect folk songs. I don’t have financial problems”. He starts teaching - in rather low spirits. He accepts 9 pupils, giving his lessons four times per week (on Tuesday 9 to 12 and 14 to 17, on Thursday 15 to 18, and on Friday 9 to 12 o’clock). His wife manages to acquire a passport. On 3 October she travels with her sister-in-law to her mother-in-law’s in Pozsony, then returns home on the 18th. 10 October - Bartok informs Mrs Hugo Kelen b. Rózsi Hirschi that she can come see him at the Academy. 195
