Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)

Great Concert Tours on Two Continents (1922–1931)

GREAT CONCERT TOURS ON TWO CONTINENTS (1 922-1 931 )

1930

3 and 21 September he is complaining about their accounts). He keeps Universal Edition informed of the situation in his letters of 1, 3, 6, 9, 20 September.

7 September

- He plays a Bach sonata at his home, in family circle.

8 September

- He visits his mother and aunt. He puts this day as the date of the completion of Cantata profana.

9 September

- At a concert of Radio Budapest he plays pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Bartok, and Debussy.

15 September

- Letter to ITHMA.

17 September

- He enters into agreement with the Rózsavölgyi

and

Co. firm regarding the publication of Bach’s Sonata No. 6.

21 September

- Despite the rainy weather he visits his mother and aunt.

24 September

- His son Béla

gets

engaged to Judith Simay,

daughter

of Engineering Supreme Councellor, István

Simay.

26 September

and 3 October - He writes Universal Edition.

28 September

- His mother visits him in his home, where the Roth String Quartet are rehearsing, presumably String Quartet No. 4.

29 September

- With his son Péter

he

visits his mother, with whom they go on a walk to the Citadel.

4 October

- He writes Verhuyck-Coulon, then brings his mother Emil Haraszti’s book on Bartok, which he considers very bad, as well as a telegram from Counsellor of Legation, Zoltán

Baranyai in

which he invites Bartok to next year’s annual meeting of the Intellectual Collaboration Committee of the League of Nations. Bartok’s telegraphic answer is: “I accept without work obligations”. (In the end he did do work, he even gave a speech in the committee.) He tells his mother that, according to Director Miklos Radnai, The Miraculous Mandarin would be presented in February, Sergio Failoni conducting, who is the best at present. Radnai asked if he was satisfied with local forces or wanted a guest performance; Bartok’s reply was that with none but local forces. (Then the premiere got cancelled.) The renewal 313