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)

1921

Dance No. 1, Beethovens Kreutzer

Sonata

with Zoltán

Székely, and

accompanies Izabella Nagy who sings 3 Sekler folk songs. (Izabella Nagy also performed further pieces, accompanied by Adolf Szikla.)

29 April - Bartok writes a letter to Universal Edition.

8 May - He writes János

Bu§i|ia

in Belényes

- correspondences restarted between the two countries. He gives a short description of his situation and his grief about the research of folk songs made impossible. He also writes about the growing appreciation he is getting abroad, even in some Hungarian circles, but this is all just moral success. He is writing articles for one Italian, two English, one French, and two American music periodicals, thus supplementing his scanty teacher’s salary.

Cecil Gray, whose significant article of praise about Bartok was published in the November 1920 issue of the Sackbut, is about to come to Budapest.

16 May - Bartok writes Gray that he is glad he is coming, he will be waiting for him at the station, hopefully they will recognise each other: “I am very thin, my hair is white and I wear spectacles”.

Around 20 May Gray arrives in Budapest. He is guest of the Kodálys

for

12 days. During this time Bartok is visiting with the Kodálys

regularly,

and the three of them talk matters over.

24 May - He writes Lajos Kassák

in

Vienna that he agrees to a manuscript of his being published in Kassák

’s anthology

“

Új művészek könyve” (“Book of New Artists”), but permission of Universal Edition needs to be obtained (this didn’t happen).

1 June

- Cecil Gray returns home.

3 June - Bartok is being appointed member of the Regular Cosuitant Committee of Authors’ Rights for 6 years by decree No. 56911/921- III. of the Ministry of Religion and Public Education.

Based on his renewed contact with Bu§i|ia, Bartok is preparing to go to Belényes

for

summer vacation.

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