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

World War II. Second and Third American Tour (1939–1945)

WORLD WAR II.

SECOND AND THIRD AMERICAN TO U

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( 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 )

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of his passports validity.

5 November

- In Hackettstown (New Jersey) Bartok’s recital is held at New Jersey College for Women. His programme is: two pieces from 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs, eight from the series For Children, Petite Suite, The Nights Music, five pieces from Microcosmos, Suite Op. 14, and Allegro barbaro,

then

Kodálys

Transylvanian

Lament and Epitaph.

6 November - He hands in another request of passport validity extension (registration No. 6353/1940) at the Consulate General of New York. Filling out the form absentmindedly, he writes the colour of his eyes blue instead of brown.

7 November - The Consulate General issues a verification (No. 5863/1940) to Béla

Bartok

Jnr of Bartok being alive and of his Hungarian citizenship.

8 November

- He plays in Swarthmore (Pennsylvania) at Swarthmore College. With his wife he performs Mozarts Sonata for Two Pianos in D major and Debussy’s En

blanc et noir, in solo Petite Suite, The

Nights Music, Suite

Op.

14,

Allegro barbaro,

and

five pieces from Microcosmos.

10 November

- They play Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussions at Radio New York. - He writes a long letter to his son Béla

asking

for the extension of his expiring passport’s validity, repeating part of his 27 October letter and giving the necessary data for the compensation of their baggage regarded lost. He mentions that “preparations for the first concert also left much to be desired”.

14 November

- He gives a recital at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie (State of New York).

17 November

- At Radio New York he plays a piano concerto by Mozart.

18 November

- He writes Douglas Moore that he is in America again, and he is expecting his company on 25 November at his inauguration of Honorary Doctor. - He also writes Zoltán

Székely in

Sant Poort Station.

24 November

- At the New York Town Hall he gives a concert of two pianos 459