Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)

At The Academy of Sciences. Great Compositions (1934–1938)

AT THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

GREAT C

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( 1 934-1 938)

1938

27 March - He writes journalist Károly

Kristof,

and also the editors of Est,

because they rehashed his protest against Italian and German radio transmissions, what’s more this time even adding a false amendment. He demands that his declaration be published.

28 March - He informs Secretary of the Music Institute of Higher Education (Music Academy), Kálmán

Isoz

that he will not send any manuscript to the jubilee of the Concertgebouw due to their irreconcilable differences. - He starts his lasting feud with different German organisations at this time. He sends a forceful declaration with 5 attachments each to STAGMA, AKM and the Baden-Baden Musikdirektion,

expounding

on the unlawfulness of them labelling his works that make use of folk songs “adaptations”. - He participates at the concert of the University Choirs. His programme: With Drums and Pipes, The Nights Music, Preludio-AlVUngherese, and Kodálys

Epitaph.

31 March - Music is performed in Prague.

2 April - He writes Sándor

Albrecht

about economic and ethical consequences of the Anschluss (annexing Austria). “That’s why I have to make a (hooked) cross over [Translator’s note: a somewhat acerbic reference to the swastika, the original phrase of making a cross over something meaning: kiss it goodbye] the manuscript being with the Matica, and let it be lost where it is. ... The greatest problem is that similar turns are to be expected even in our country, the question is only, when? And if this happens, how can one stay?!”

4 April - He is asking tentatively Géza

Frid

living

in Amsterdam, whether BUMA (the Dutch composers’ union) would accept him among its members. (This unrealistic idea did not come to fruition in the swiftly deteriorating political situation.)

6 April - He writes a forceful letter to the Baden-Baden Musikdirektion

regarding their planned concert where they intended to perform Five Hungarian Folk Songs labelled adaptations, completely disregarding Bartok’s protests. (And they did perform them in this form indeed.) -421