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

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

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CHRONICLES OF BÉLA

BARTOK'S

LIFE

thermometer was faulty, showing 0,3° less).

30 January

- He writes József

Szigeti that

he would have liked him to present Violin Concerto in America, and maybe it could be performed with Ormándy

in

Philadelphia. - He writes in detail about the systematisation work and specifications of Romanian lyrics.

31 January

- He visits a certain Dr. Dann, he even plays the piano. He tries the piano arrangement of Concerto', “the whole thing sounds hideous, only movement 4 is tolerable”. He also plays Allegro barbaro,

it

goes quite well, but Bear Dance tires out his left hand, which has never ever happened.

1 February

- He works 4 hours preparing his tax declaration for the previous year.

2 February

- He takes it to the local tax office for checking.

3 and

6 February - He writes his wife about their son Péter

s

approaching joining up with the Navy.

7 February

- He writes a former Budapest pupil of his, Ágnes

Butcher

in Toronto.

9 February

- He shares happy news with Dorothy Parrish: “I will be a free man from May - that is a doctor-free man”.

As opposed to the improvement of his health, their financial situation worries him very much.

13 February

- He admonishes his wife to be increasingly economical.

20 February - He writes desperately: “Taxes have to be paid after the ASCAP alms,

I wasn’t expecting such an abominable trick. Now let anyone come to me in this unblessed country saying they would cure me at their own expenses, I will throw them out on their ears. I want to return to New York as urgently as possible. - I have no reply for Reiner s letter. If he performs something, let him perform. Should I kiss his hand for it? Everyone should know what I have known already since the autumn of 1941 that I cannot live in this country. In this country ... lasciate ogni speranza”. (Abandon all hope.)

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