Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Connecting to the Music Life of Europe (1904–1906)
1904 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE Around 11 May - He begins his trip by train on the Budapest-Tornalja route, then goes on by car to Gerlice. 13 May - He writes his first impressions to his mother (writing the name of the place humorously “ Gerle” [dove]). He orders the transport of a piano to Gerlice Puszta, practises 4 hours a day, he also works a lot - but with restraint (writing scores for 4-5 hours per day) - on his compositions. His main opus at that time is Rhapsody signed Op. 1, which he wanted to present in November in Pozsony. (That didn’t work out.) He is also working on his Piano Quintet. In Gerlice Puszta he meets the Fischers’ employee from Kibéd of Maros-Torda county, Lidi Dósa whose singing catches his attention and he jots down one of her songs. (So Lili Dósa was not in Bartok’s employment.) This can be considered the start of Bartok’s work in collecting folk songs. He also collects other folk songs in Gerlice. 26 June - He gives an account of his life in Gerlice Puszta to his mother, of the good food (lots of chicken, chocolate with breakfast and tea, etc.) and his work, furthermore of the date and programme of his planned Pozsony concert. At the end of July or at the beginning of August he travels from Gerlice Puszta to Bayreuth for the Festival. On the printed program he organises the performances into groups with brackets; he even underlines the four performances between 14 and 17 August (Rhine Gold, Walkyrie, Siegfried, and Twilight of the Gods). Seen that he cannot spend too much time there, he presumably watches the last 6 performances, namely on 19 August Tannhäuser, on the 20th Parsifal beside the already listed four. 21 August - On his way back from Regensburg he writes a postcard to Kálmán Harsányi in Újpest, still under the influence of Parsifal of the previous day, although he liked it less than previously Tristan. (This was not performed in Bayreuth this time.) He also meets Richter for whom he plays his Scherzo. 74
