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

World War II. Second and Third American Tour (1939–1945)

WORLD WAR II.

SECOND AND THIRD AMERICAN TO U

R

( 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 )

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with Ferenc Roth, in solo he plays Petite Suite, The Nights Music, and some pieces of Microcosmos. - It was at this time that his attention was called to the Parry folk song collection at Columbia University of New York, which he would eventually be asked to systematise; this became the basis of his third American journey.

24 April

- In New York he performs Rhapsody No. 1 with József

Szigeti, in

solo he plays pieces of Microcosmos.

25 April

- Interview and lecture at WQXR radio station of New York.

27 April

- Performance of Music in New York conducted by John Barbirolli. Bartok was presumably also attending.

29 and

30 April - He makes gramophone recordings with József

Szigeti in

New York.

1 May

- He gives a Bartok evening at Columbia University, again with Szigeti.

2 May

- Another gramophone recording.

3 May

- Columbia University acknowledges that the honorary doctor inauguration is postponed until the autumn.

7 May

- Radio recording in New York. - He visits Calvinist pastor László

Harsányi, one

of the leaders of Hungarians in America.

16 May

- He composes a letter of recommendation for Dorothy Parrish which he sends her on 17 May, also writing that he is preparing to visit the United States again in the autumn with his wife - maybe for several years. - He writes greeting cards to conductor Frigyes

Reiner

in Westport (Connecticut) and to Mrs Müller-Widmann

in Basel before leaving: “Here I am again, but even despite the sad European events I can hardly wait to go back.”.

18 May

- He leaves New York at noon on board of the steamboat Manhattan of the United States Lines.

26 May - He arrives in Genoa.

27 May - The Ministry of Religion and Public Education requests his attendance (with No. 16276/40-IIL) in a committee which would

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