Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Connecting to the Music Life of Europe (1904–1906)
CONNECTING TO THE MUSIC LIFE OF EUROPE (1 904-1 906) 1905 15 March - At the Vigadó s Great Hall he plays Liszts Dance Macabre, the Philharmonics are conducted by István Kerner. - Afterwards he writes a postcard to his mother in Pozsony, with the signatures of Aggházy, Herzfeld, Koessler, Mihalovich among others. - Its around this time that Mihalovich invites him to apply for a state grant in support of the folk song collecting trip in Transylvania; at the same time Mrs Gruber writes enthusiastically about the concert of the 15th, and encourages him to go on playing the piano, even at the expense of collecting folk songs. 18 March - At Mrs Grubers he meets Zoltán Kodály who is giving his fourth lesson in composition to the lady of the house. (Bartok and Kodály had never met during their joint academic years.) 20 March - From Budapest Bartok travels to Pozsony at night. 21 March - At four in the morning he arrives in Pozsony. 27 March - He travels again to Vienna, returning to his old flat. 28 March - The widowed Mrs Béla Bartok sends a package to her daughter in Szilad puszta, which contains the harmonised score of the Szekler song sung by Lidi Dósa. 1 April - The widowed Mrs Béla Bartok gives her daughter an account of Bartoks plan for arranging the Death March of Kossuth Symphony for piano and sending it to the Magyar Lant (Hungarian Lyre), a concept the editor greeted with pleasure. It s around this time that Bartok hands in an application to the Music Academy for a subvention in aid of collecting folk songs. 6 April - In Vienna he drafts a letter to János Richter s daughter. 8 April - He writes his sister about his plan to stay with them for a month from 8 June, and to also take along a book by Nietsche to read together. Then he stays in Vienna until 18 April without interruption. He is frequenting distinguished circles, he makes several acquaintances, even pays two visits to Under-Secretary of State Lajos Tallóczy. 18 April - He leaves Vienna for Pozsony. 79
