Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
After World War I (1920–1921)
1921 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 12 November - At the Vigadó, beside the premiere of Kodály ’s Piano Music Op. 11, he plays 10 numbers of 14 Bagatells, 3 Burlesques, and Rumanian Dance No. 1 as well as Bach’s Sonata in E major and Szymanowski’s series Mythes Op. 11 (Budapest premiere) with Zoltán Székely. 26 November - After a hiatus of eight and a half years, he makes an appearance once again in a Hungarian country town, Szeged, to where he is also accompanied by his wife. Beside his own pieces, he plays sonatas by Scarlatti and 3 pieces from Kodály ’s Piano Music Op. 11, then accompanies the singer Emma Thuray. 27 November - They leave Szeged to return to Budapest. 10 December - He writes from here to Jenő J. Tersánszky who has sent him a libretto: “The text in question would interest me, but I have little time”. (Then, on 22 January 1922 he returned the work.) - He thanks Calvocoressi for the Musical Times, and sends his 5 Peasant Songs for an eventual performance. In Frankfurt a/M. the two stage works are planned to be performed, which Bartok would like to see. 14 December - He asks Calvocoressi to coordinate the time of his eventual appearance with the performance in Frankfurt. Letter to Hortense (Titi) Arányi “ I safely finished the Violin Sonata day before yesterday”. 20 December - Due to the constant devaluation of the Hungarian crown, the Minister of Religion and Public Education settles his salary (under No. 197086/1921-III.) in 1,200,- crowns, starting 1 January 1922. 21 December - For the Christmas holidays Bartok travels with his wife and son to Szöllős Puszta, new domicile of his sister’s family. The Frankfurt stage premiere is set for 1 April 1922. 29 December - Already in Budapest, Bartok informs Cecil Gray and Philip Heseltine about the date of the performance and his plans for England. (Later the Frankfurt premiere got postponed, first to 6 May, finally to 13 May.) 204
