Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)
1922 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 22 January - He writes Jenő J. Tersánszky in Debrecen that he checked his work, but he cannot put music to it, so he returns it. In the meantime the Transylvanians are organising more and more concerts. 2 February - Bartok writes Rezik his augmented programme offer and financial claims. - He informs M. Calvocoressi in London that he would arrive on 28 March. (It was typical of the general uncertainty that he was there already on 10 March.) Around 5 February he is expecting the Milhauds’ Budapest visit. (There is no data about it actually happening.) 8 February - He writes a letter to Mrs Zoltán Kodály. At the end of the long letter he stands up for his wife, Márta Ziegler writing the following: “But as regards the accusations against the third person - Márta - I definitely want to know these. I love and respect her very much, I am indebted to her in these hard times like to no one else: I cannot imagine in what way she could have offended you, of whom she has always talked with the greatest affection.” 9 February - He sets out for Transylvania, but turns back from Békéscsaba because no trains are in circulation due to snowdrifts. 13 February - He sets out again. He arrives in Kolozsvár at 1:30 at night, and stays at the Károly Reziks ’ at 9 Tordai Road. 14 February - He visits his wife’s uncle Professor Dr. Gábor Engel (who had been helping at the birth of Csinszka at Csúcsa), furthermore they start rehearsals for the concerts. - He writes his wife his itinerary, although it would get altered significantly even in the last days. 19 February - His first concert at the Hungarian Theatre of Kolozsvár. The local orchestra plays Two Pictures; Bartok’s solo programme is: Nos. 6 to 15 of 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs, A Bit Tipsy Evening in Transylvania, Bear Dance, Allegro barbaro, Suite Op. 14, Dirge No. 1, Rumanian Folk Dances, and Rumanian Dance No. 1; besides he accompanies Béla Farkas who sings four old Sekler folk songs (4 206
