Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
School Years (1890–1903)
1894 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE Wanda Zs. Rudolf. Their daughter Márta got registered on page 72, Volume XIX (II) of the register of the Protestant Church. She is the youngest child, her siblings being the already deceased Wanda, and those who would play a role in Bartoks life later on: Károly, Vilmos, and Hermina ( “Herma”). Bartok lists five compositions originating in Beszterce in 1893: Margit Polka, Ilona Mazurka, and Jolán Mazurka dedicated to Margit, Ilona, and Jolán Kőszegváry, Lajos Waltz dedicated to Lajos Rónay, and Elza Polka dedicated to his younger sister “ Elzácska“ (little Elza) which would be completed only in 1894. 1894 He gets pocket-money regularly in Beszterce, 14 fillérs a week, which he manages really well. 31 March - His savings are 32 crowns and 74 fillérs according to his notes. He receives his 14 fillérs both on 1 and 8 April as usual, but he lends his mother 32 crowns on the 8th. The family feels very uneasy in Beszterce, and the continuation of Bartoks musical training cannot be arranged either. Luckily, after 8 months Mrs Bartok manages to get appointed to the training-school of the Hungarian Royal Teachers’ Institute for Schoolmistresses. 14 April - Bartok receives a discharge certificate from the grammar school in German with registry number 103/1894, complete with an intermediate school report. Of the 7 grades used in the Prussian system there is 1 outstanding (Hungarian language), 2 excellent, 4 good, 1 fair (German language), and 1 satisfactory (singing!). He also got ranked: he was 5th of 44 pupils. 17 April - The family moves from Beszterce to Pozsony, to the Albert Voits for the time being in lack of a flat. Their later flat would be at 3 26
