Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
At The Academy of Sciences. Great Compositions (1934–1938)
1934 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 12 January - So his evening of sonatas with Imre Waldbauer at the Music Institute of Higher Education (Music Academy) evokes particular interest. Their programme features sonatas by Brahms (A major), Mozart (B flat major), Beethoven (A major Kreutzer), and Debussy. - Bartoks mother writes her daughter the following day: “Yesterday’s concert was so very beautiful I cant even begin to express. The audience wanted to show their great joy at seeing Béla finally on stage.” 14 January - Bartok asks Sándor Albrecht by letter to keep his mothers pension - that was paid out in Pozsony - until further notice, because he would like to use it elsewhere. Concerning the Music Academy entrance exam of an aspiring pupil from Pozsony, he writes: if they are good, they will surely be admitted, there are so few applicants. (The decrease in births caused by WWI made its impact.) - He also writes Universal Edition. 15 January - He completes his essay entitled Our Folk Music and Folk Music of the Neighbouring Peoples which he reads out at Radio Budapest. He himself transports the phonograph to the studio and his son Béla handles it during the presentation. 20 January - He writes Universal Edition concerning the publication of Cantata prof ana, Ernő Südy in Békéscsaba about the programme and suitable date of the concert planned there. 30 January - Upon request of his former pupil László Gergely, he writes a letter of recommendation addressed to Jenő Hubay. - He informs Ernő Südy that he will arrive in Békéscsaba on 15 February with Szidi Elek, and asks for a couple of free tickets for relatives from Békés county. 3 February - He brings a review regarding 44 Duos to his mother. 5 February - He goes on a longish walk with his family in the morning, then gives 3 private lessons. In the evening he participates in an extraordinary concert of the Philharmonic Society at the Vigadó. He plays piano concertos, Bach’s F minor and Mozarts C major, conducted by Walter Herbert. 360
