Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Economic Crisis (1932–1933)
1932 CHRONICLES OF BÉLA BARTOK'S LIFE 13 March - He arrives in Piraeus via Athens; returning to Athens he walks up the Acropolis, then boards the Romanian ship Regele Carol in Piraeus. 15 March - At noon he arrives in Alexandria, and finally in Cairo. He stays at the Renner boarding house on Emad-el din Street. 18 March - He writes his son Béla: “ There was no harm in coming here, no damage as yet either ... Great disputes are in progress, but it hasn’t yet come to blows”. 19 March - He writes his wife and his son Péter a colourful account of his Egyptian experiences and of the work at the congress in which he takes active part. 20 March - He and Erich Hornbostel write a joint card to Mrs Milch b. Etelka Freund. He takes an excursion to the Sakkara pyramid in the company of Hornbostel, Paul Hindemith, and Egon Wellesz among others. 22 March - Two great experiences: “Tut-an Kamuns belongings” in the Egyptian museum and the first folk music demonstration at the congress: “Exorcism took place with fuming of incense, frenetic drumming, wild dancing and real peasant singing” - he writes his wife the next day. 24 March - Another folk music demonstration in Tlemcen (not the same as Tlemcen in Algeria). 26 March - Letter to the Mainz firm Schott. 27 March - A farewell excursion to the Gizeh pyramids. 28 March - The congress ends. Bartok leaves the same day for Alexandria where he boards the Turkish ship Ege for Piraeus. 30 March - He arrives there with a 12-hour delay; takes a room at Hotel Excelsior of Athens. 31 March - He proceeds - again in a wagon-lit - on the route Athens- Thessaloniki-Gyevgyeli. 2 April - He arrives in Budapest via Szabadka. 340
