Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
At The Academy of Sciences. Great Compositions (1934–1938)
AT THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. GREAT C O M P O S I T I O N S ( 1 934-1 938) 1934 11 March - Bartok writes Balló that he would be glad if Balló did the work of preparation for print, but he cannot interfere with the disputed topic of the fee. (He completes the letter only on 21 March.) 15 March - He gives two private lessons. He travels to Szombathely probably on 16 March. 18 March - He gives a concert at the Artisans’ Circle of Szombathely. This is his first Szombathely appearance. The leader of the Choral Society of the Artisans’ Circle, Fülöp Heintz (who conducted Old Hungarian Folk Songs) wrote in his lengthy prospectus: “The great master carries the heavy cloak of historical vocation of timeless significance on his shoulder, and this cloak exalts his figure King of Hungarian Music Life. ... may this become the life force of our local culture for further strengthening, improvement and becoming more Hungarian”. Bartok plays Beethoven’s Sonata for Violoncello and Piano in A major with Gyula Baranyai, then “Slow” of Rhapsody No. 1, Gertler’s transcription of Sonatina and Szigeti’s one of For Children under the title Hungarian Folk Songs with Alice Bárdos; his solo programme: Kodály’s Transylvanian Lament and Epitaph, Bartok’s Rondo No. 1, Evening in Transylvania, Bear Dance, Allegro barbaro. In the second half of the programme the orchestral transcription of Nos. 6 to 15 of 15 Hungarian Peasant Songs are presented under the title Hungarian Peasant Songs by the orchestra of the Cultural Society and the 5th Infantry Regiment conducted by Gyula Baranyai, finally Rhapsody with Bartok’s solo. 19 March - From Budapest Bartok writes Universal Edition. 21 March - He completes the letter of 11 March written to Balló. At the same time he also writes Matica Slovenská that he would like to settle the Balló case peacefully and continue engaging Balló ’s work. 22 and 23 March - He is visited by his mother and his sister staying in Budapest. 14 April - Before leaving Budapest he sends his “thanks for the kind 363
