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 R ( 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 ) 1 941 from Japan and with the chance to meet up again. 3 February - He receives his letter of credence from Columbia University for the five months from 1 February to 30 June for the remuneration of 1,500 dollars. His title is “Visiting Associate in Music”. His task is the notation and systematisation of Milman Parry’s Yugoslavian collection. 4 February - An evening of chamber music at the Jordan Hall of Boston. Bartok plays with József Szigeti Mozarts Sonata in A major, his own Rhapsody No. 1, and Debussy’s Sonata, with Mrs Bartok Debussy’s En blanc et noir, with Benny Goodman Debussy’s Rhapsody for Clarinet and Piano, and with Szigeti and Goodman Contrasts which got issued in their performance simultaneously by the Columbia firm. 6 February - Bartok leaves New York for Princeton junction from where he proceeds to Princeton (New Jersey) with Oliver Strunk’s wife. 7 February - At the McCosh Hall of Princeton University he plays Rhapsody No. 2 and Székelys transcription of Rumanian Folk Dances with violinist Jenő Antal. His solo programme is: Petite Suite, The Nights Music, Suite Op. 14, Allegro barbaro, ten pieces from Microcosmos, Kodály’s Transylvanian Lament and Epitaph. - From here he returns to Forest Hills. 10 February - He gets notified of the arrival of the baggage. 11 February - He travels to Jersey City (New Jersey) to collect it, and while waiting there, he writes a letter to his son Béla about the New York Consulate General having extended the validity of his passport under its own responsibility until 7 August out of leniency - considering the slow administration in Hungary -, but he has to take measures regarding the permit of Budapest by all means. 12 February - He continues the letter gladly: “So the baggage is here ... Everything is in there, non-moth-eaten, non-man-stolen”. He encloses a separate letter for Irma Voit: “ We are so sad that we cannot yet return home for the time being, although we have already started 463
