Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
World War II. Second and Third American Tour (1939–1945)
1 944 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 14 April - He is complaining about a permanent temperature of around 37,1-37,3°C (he knew by then that the thermometer indicated wrongly), and his eyes are also a constant cause of trouble. 21 April - He writes in a different mood “What a concert of birds we have here from dawn till late in the evening, and at night the cricket takes over its realm”. 22 April - Letter to Boosey & Hawkes. He writes his son Péter repeatedly about not knowing what to advise regarding his possible citizenship. He writes about the singing of spring birds: “... Birds are totally inebriated by the springtime and they produce such concerts that I have never yet heard. Starting with the pe-yutch - pe-yutch - pe-yutch 7. 7. 7. and finishing with different [obviously newly arrived] birds with newer sounds. .. ” 27 April - He leaves Asheville. 28 April - He arrives in New York. He stays at Hotel Woodrow. 7 May - At the Brooklyn Museum of New York, the Serly String Orchestra gives a concert with Mrs Bartoks participation; Bartok is attending and gives a lecture on some of the pieces in his repertoire {Sonatina, Suite, Rondo No. 1, Evening in Transylvania), but doesn’t play the piano anymore. - This is his last public appearance. 15 May - The Hungarian department of the Swedish Embassy extends the validity of his passport (No. 550/44) until 7 August 1945. 20 May - He writes his son Péter about his health condition: “... That rib pain has long ceased, but of course dr’s have no idea what it had really been. However, they found 28 thousand white blood cells in me instead of 10 thousand and now they are pondering over that....” 6 June - The allied forces land in Europe which fills Bartok with hope and on 7 June he writes about it to his son Péter: “ Well, the long-awaited Day has dawned yesterday....” 23 June - He writes a letter to Ágnes Butcher. 30 June - He thanks Yehudi Menuhin for his work regarding fingerings 490
