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 about their uncertain position, about the scarcity of concerts. “The only serene point is my work at Columbia University ... But - unfortunately - this is just casual work, and it might have to remain incomplete.” - He also writes about all of this to his son Béla, and adds: “Our return home ... is put off again to foggy and faraway obscurity... The doctor is letting off X-rays into my left shoulder ... Result 00. If Péter manages to leave, you will handle monies on your own at your discretion ... I will try to write monthly, although there is not much to write about”. (This was his last letter to his son, he would never write again.) 27 October - He asks Frigyes Reiner to fill out the guarantee forms again because Mrs Bartok needs authorisation of further temporary stay in her own right. - He writes Douglas Moore that he would like to meet him to discuss an article about his work at Columbia University. 28 October - He gives a lecture entitled Folk Music of Central Europe at Wells College in Aurora (State of New York) and gives a concert; programme: Petite Suite, The Nights Music, Variations (Ballad) and Old Dance Tunes from 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs, and six pieces from Microcosmos. 5 November - He gets elected honorary president of “Hungarian House” of Los Angeles. 16 November - From New York he writes another letter (registered under No. 2146/1941) to Ambassador György Ghyka in Washington regarding his son Péter s outward journey. 20 November - He is in Chicago, staying at Hotel Stevens. In the evening he plays Piano Concerto No. 2 at the concert of the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Frederick Stock. 21 November - They repeat the programme. “The orchestra played splendidly, while I was not that good at all. This piece bores me so much by now” - he writes his wife. 22 November - Still in Chicago, he has lunch at the Margit Varrós ’, has dinner at his old acquaintances, the Renée Engels ’. Then he leaves 473
