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 commission ending, he is ready to work there from June 1942, his schedule consisting of the notation of their Native American material and the teaching of folk song collecting and notation. 13 June - He writes Boosey & Hawkes about contracts and financial matters. The University of Michigan wants to perform some of the childrens choirs in 1942, and former violist of the Waldbauer Quartet, Egon Kenton (Kornstein) is recommended to Bartok for the translation of their lyrics. 17 June - Bartok writes Kenton and asks him to undertake this task. 20 June - He writes his son Béla about the complications of the permission of the so-called “non-quota immigrant” (immigration beyond the appointed number), about his tax obligations in Hungary after 1940 and about his work which is very interesting; but he is not happy about systematising the rather voluminous Native American material (of which he is negotiating with Seattle): “this is very far from my previous folklore territories”. Concert life is so uncertain that after 1942 “we should return home, whatever the situation over there. By that time it will not be much better here either” - he writes. Mrs Fassett b. Ágota Illés (living in the United States) hosts the Bartoks several times at the Fassetts’ summer house in Riverton (Vermont); in June Mrs Bartok vacations there as a paying guest. 22 June - From New York Bartok writes his wife that summer climate is very bad in New York (this is his first summer in America); he sends her the joint letter of his sons of 22 May, written following his younger sons confirmation. - The Germans attacked the Soviet Union on this day. 23 June - From New York he replies to Egon Kenton in Jackson Heights, and sends one of the childrens choirs for test translation. He frequents the Columbia daily at this time. He himself wants to obtain the paper necessary for his work, but by then even this creates 469
