Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)
1930 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE of Bluebeard was also discussed and even the “ Béla Balázs matter ” which was still unresolved. 17 October - His son Bêlas fiancé pays an introductory visit to the Bartoks. The widowed Mrs Béla Bartok writes her daughter: “ Béla has no objection, the way he sees it his son is getting into a good family”. 18 October - Bartok brings Antal Molnár s essay about Piano Concerto No. 1 to his mother. He tells her that - though having had no official notification - he was first congratulated by Albert Gyergyai on having received the French Legion of Honour together with Mihály Babits. 19 October - He develops a fever. 21 October - All the same he already brings his mother the complimentary copy of Michelangelo Rossis works for cembalo in Bartoks edition that he got from New York. 23 October - He agrees to Universal Edition handing over Rhapsody No. 1 to Radio Berlin, on condition that they make sure that Szigeti would not play the work in Berlin either with Kleiber or Klemperer or anyone else that season. It is at this time that Hungary’s Regent establishes the decorations “Corvin Chain, Wreath and Decorative Badge” to honour writers, artists and scientists having gained distinctions in the field of Hungarian culture. Béla Bartok is donated the lower class Corvin Wreath. 28 October - Bartok is having dinner at his mother s, and tells her that he will refuse to be decorated, but after his mothers long persuasion in the end he relinquishes the idea. 1 November - He hands over a dedicated copy of The Hungarian Folk Song to Baron Lajos Hatvany. 2 November - He surprises his mother with a grapefruit, a rarity at that time. He shows her the greeting letters he received on occasion of the donation of the Corvin Wreath. 4 November - A visit at his mother s and a letter to ITHMA. 314
