Verhovayak Lapja, 1940. január-június (23. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1940-04-25 / 17. szám
1 SECTION TWO ENGLISH EDITION iMhovayJournal XXIII. VOLUME APRIL 25, 1940 NO. 17. Rex Matthias By KASSAI ENDRE With deep reverence the Hungarian nation celebrated the four-hundredth anniversary of King Matthias’ birth. At a banquet of the Members of the Corvin Order of Merit—a distinction conferred on men eminent in the world of letters, art and science and so called because Matthias’ family was known by the name of Corvin—the signal merits of the great Hungarian King were expatiated upon by the Hungarian Premier, Count Paul Teleki, who is a direct descendant of that King’s tutor and most intimate adviser. It was—the Premier said—a source of profound satisfaction to the nation that of all our kings, most of them of foreign extraction, it was two Magyar monarchs, St. Stephen and Matthias, who had proved the greatest rulers. When after a succession of Teutonic and Slav kings the Hungarians elected the son of their greatest hero, John Hunyadi, to rule over them, they did so, not only to guard against the danger of foreign interference, but also to throw their national aspirations into relief and to enhance the prestige of the Magyar race. It was greatly to King Matthias’ credit that he was the first, not only in Hungary, but also in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, to organize a regular army. With it he ensured the country’s independence by defeating first the armies of the German and Bohemian monarchs and then the rebel Prince of Moldavia (present-day Rumania). But he never allowed himself to be carried away into adventurous undertakings by a lust for conquest; on the contrary he pacified his conquered foes so successfully that he was elected King of Bohemia and thought of uniting his old enemies in a league with the help of which he hoped to be able to check the waves of Ottoman imperialism threatening to overwhelm Western Christendom, and to force the Turks to retreat. When Matthias, after establishing peace with his neighbors, embarked on a victorious campaign against the Turks, he therewith became the champion of European and Western ideas. It was for enlightenment, Christianity and the freedom of the nations that Matthias undertook this mission and inaugurated a struggle against the Turks which succeeding generations were able to continue, saving Europe from the destruction attending the advance of an anti-Christian Asiatic Power. Matthias had little sympathy with the priveleged Estates; his chief concern being to improve the lot of the common people. To do so he lightened the burdens weighing on the serfs, codified the laws dealing with the administration of justice, rid the national bureaucracy of many abuses, instituted a system of public trial on fixed days, and framed centralists laws for the guidance of the lower-grade authorities and courts. Matthias was one of the greatest kings of the Renaissance. He raised Hungary to such a high level of culture that this country became a veritable center of Renaissance science and art. The university and large library in Buda were among the best in Europe. To his court he brought Attavante degli Attavanti, Boccachio Veccio, Francesco d’Antonio del Cerico and the del Fora brothers, in order that the presence there of the greatest masters of the age should act as a stimulus to the development of Hungarian art. Hungarian science and literature made such strides that all Europe was impressed. Nevertheless, at Matthias’ court the international values of the humanistic trend of the Renaissance became transformed, imbued with a national character, the vehicles of expression of the creative and formative genius of the Magyars. RAIN IN APRIL Fragrant fall of April rain; Earth abloom with life again! While the glory of the sun Draws out green leaves one by one. Cloud and sun blend in the sky As the rainbow soars on high— Shows its many lovely hues To flowerets all pinks and blues! April rain in gentle showers Wakes the earth from wintry hours; Brings all nature fresh delight, Intense joy to scent and sight! —Amelia Nyers. --------------O-------------DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME DUE THIS MONTH Bartók and Aranyi Score Qreat Success Daylight Saving Time will return the latter part of April in many communities throughout the United States. The custom is being adopted more and more every year even outside our own country, for it is “dictated partly by the necessity of adjusting the interchange of business between . . . . large cities, and partly to give opportunity to all classes of people for evening recreation.” Beginning April 28th when Daylight Saving Time goes into effect, the Verhovay Fraternal Insurance Association will adjust its Home Despite the inclement weather the ball room of Hotel Schenley u>as filled to capacity the night of April 17th when Bela Bartók, internationally known Hungarian composer-pianist, made his first appearance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and with Francis Aranyi, celebrated Hungarian concert violinist who has enhanced the musical repute of Pittsburgh by his residence and work there, presented a joint sonata recital. The Hungarian nationality of the two great artists did not make the musical presentation a one-sided affair nor deter other national groups from attendiiig the magnificent performance of Bartók and Aranyi. The audience was about equally divided between Hungarians and ncm-Hungarians. The repertoire itself was derived largely from the works of non-Hungarian composers. While Bartók's Sonata No. 1 for Violin and piano is rich in ancient Hungarian folk tunes, it is so rhapsodical in scope as to conceal its Magyar identity, except to the ears of the experienced musician. It is proof conclusive that Office working hours to the new time, and will continue therewith' until September 29th, when the old time will be resumed. No Hungarian king had ever been adored by the common people as Matthias was. Today the wail of the people when they heard his death is still a household word in Hungary: “King Matthias is dead; justice is dead!” In all the thousand years of Hungary’s history the imagination of the people never wove so many legends, stories and anecdotes around the figure of anyone else And the imagination of the people was never at fault. A man whose name was always on the lips of the people because they had taken him to their hearts, was greater, better, more of a man than those of whom books enough to fill a library had been written or whose statues had been sculptured by the score. For science might be mistaken, artiste might work to order, but the imagination of the people, their adoration as expressed in ancedotes, tales, ballads and proverbs, was never wrong; it was the revelation of what the heart felt and the mind knew. —Danubian Review. music knows no national bounds. As the artists entered the ball room the audience stood up and heartily applauded them. Bartók is a short man of slight build, but his quick nervouslike gait indicates that he is full of energy: Aranyi is medium in height and rather broad. His move ments are calm and deliberate, unlike the short irregular motions of Bartók. The program consisted of Mozart’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, Koechel No. 296; Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano by Bartók himself; and the Kreutzer Sonata by Beethoven. The rendition of the graceful Mozart composition and the emotional Beethoven sonata need not be discussed at length. Sufficient it is to say that they were played well by the artists. Bartok’s composition, however, has evoked more comment and discussion than in many a year. His opus is a maze of rambling, percussive, staccato musical hodgepodge so ultramodern that it can be called the musical synonym of the fantastic Epstein sculptural creations. The Bartók sonata is so difficult that only masters of music can render it properly and effectively, and so profound that feio musicians and fewer laymen can comprehend and appreciate its inner beauty, which is utterly lacking on the surface. The perfect coordination and nimbleness of Bartók and Aranyi was a magnificent sight to behold, almost at times distracting the audience from the exquisite tones coming from the instruments of the virtuosos. Because Aranyi is a Pittsburgher and no stranger to TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS Contributions intended for the May 9th issue should be in before or on May 2nd. The publication of material received after that date in particular issue can not be guaranteed.
