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 ) 1 942 his son Péter is already in Lisbon but has to wait for another permit in order to proceed. He complains about their financial situation which is ‘getting worse from day to day” and about the Baldwin Society wanting to take back one of their rental pianos, so they could not study pieces for two pianos. 4 March - From New York he writes a letter to Mrs Domonkos b. Dorothy Parrish in Huntingdon with similar contents. 11 and 18 March - He writes Hans W. Heinsheimer. In April indications of his illness are getting ever stronger, he gets fevers around 37.8°C. His medical attendant Dr. Gyula Holló diagnoses “atypical myeloid leukemia”. 6 April - He receives the extension of his commission at Columbia University from 1 July 1942 to 31 December 1942, for the salary of 1,500 dollars, this time in writing. 17 April - From New York he replies to musicologist Ottó Gombosi s request for Bartok to become godfather of his son. He writes that he undertakes it willingly, although his own chosen Unitarian religion says: “christening, although very advisable, is not indispensable”. 20 April - Péter Bartok arrives in New York after an adventurous journey of 4 months. He meets his father incidentally, in the street. “The censor has cut out the name of the ship from his Lisbon telegram, so we didn’t know when to expect him” - Bartok writes Wilhelmine Creel. 24 April - At the McDowell Club in New York a reception is held in Mr and Mrs Bartoks honour. At the following concert Bartok performs Rhapsody No. 2 with Rudolf Kolisch, Suite No. 2 for two pianos with his wife, Contrasts with Kolisch and clarinetist Eric Simon. - This is his last concert in 1942. 29 May - At the Hungarian department of the Swedish Consulate General he requests in writing the extension of his passport. Number of the request is 533 = 734/3. 30 May - He writes Ralph Hawkes that he is feverish since the beginning 477
