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

Economic Crisis (1932–1933)

ECONOMIC CRISIS (1 932-1 933)

1933

21 February

- He plays pieces by Kodály,

Brahms,

and Beethoven at Radio Budapest for the usual fee of 360 pengős.

24 February

- Nathan Milstein plays the Gertler transcription of Sonatina in New York; on the 26th the Mandarin Suite is performed in London.

28 February

- He visits his mother and aunt.

7 March

- He writes Universal Edition, then, following his lessons at the Music Institute of Higher Education (Music Academy), goes to the Kodálys, staying

there until late at night.

16 March

- He sends the photocopy of Transylvanian Songs for male choir and a copy of Hungarian Folk Songs for mixed choir to István

László Németh, informing

him about the juristic situation and mentioning that his own relations with Universal Edition are rather tense.

17 March

- He sends the photocopy of the orchestral score of Cantata profana to

Sándor

Albrecht,

and remarks:“.. .1 plan to add 3 more parts of similar length. Its publication and performance can be considered only when these are also ready (if indeed the whole world will not turn upside down by then)”. - He also writes about the Matica case: “The Ballós keep

on behaving perfidiously”, a Budapest lawyer is already in discussion with a

Turócszentmárton colleague.

23 March

- He gives some lessons in advance that were scheduled for his birthday (feast of Lady Day), and at noon visits his mother and aunt.

24 March

- On the eve of his birthday the Vasutas

(Railwaymens)

Orchestra performs Hungarian Pictures conducted by Emil

Ábrányi.

27 March

- He writes a letter to the Konzertgesellschaft

of

Zurich.

1 April

- During his visit at his mother and aunts he talks about events and rapid changes in Germany in very low spirits.

7 April

- His String Quartet No. 3 is performed in Berlin.

8 April

- He writes another firmly phrased letter to Matica Slovenská.

10 April

- He informs Constantin Briloiu that he cannot wait for the publication of the kolindas any longer, and requests the return of the material. - He also writes Universal Edition.

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