Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
War Years (1914–1919)
1917 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 31 July - They travel home via Nagyvárad, Tango to Budapest, while Bartok straight to Rákoskeresztúr. In August Bartok is ill for a week. As soon as he is convalescing he writes a letter of thanks to János Bu§i|ia, attaching a book by Béla Balázs and another one by Zsigmond Móricz. He also wanted to send Mysteries by Balázs, but was unable to procure a copy. - In the meanwhile he is also working on his folk song collection. 13 August - He sends various folk song publications from Rákoskeresztúr to ethnomusicologist Antal Bánik in Garamolaszka. Teaching starts in September. 10 September - He is unable to travel to Budapest because trains are overcrowded, of which fact he duly asks for an official verification. The Opera House still keeps The Wooden Prince on its programme. 29 September - It is performed for the fifth time, and nine more times during the season of 1917/18. 1 October - Bartok writes a report to the Joint Ministry of War about the collecting of marching songs. 10 October - He writes Bu§i|ia: “the ballet is still performed at times at the Opera”, while the premiere of the Bluebeard is planned for March. (It eventually became May.) He also mentions an ethnographic concert in Vienna planned for 15 December; this came true only in January. - At the same time he asks Mrs Fischer b. Stefánia Szalay to visit him for an audition in Rákoskeresztúr instead of Budapest. 16 October - From Rákoskeresztúr he sends another report to the Joint Ministry of War. 17 October - He takes all his family to Budapest to attend Ernő Dohnányi s recital, who plays an Elegy and 2 Dirges among other things. Mrs Bartok writes the widowed Mrs Béla Bartok: “ Béla was shining with all his being. We went to the artists’ room after the concert”. While Mrs Kodály writes as follows: “ Dohnányi, even if a bit late - but not too late - took on himself to interpret Béla with so much love and beauty”. 172
