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 ) 1 945 I think it would be best if you renounced all plans of returning; as how could you live among such inhuman conditions that will prevail there for who knows how many years.” American organisations, primarily UNRRA, established organised charity for European peoples but only for the winning nations. So an organisation called ‘American Hungarian Relief, Inc.” got founded in the United States, and Hungarians of America were called upon in its name to donate. Bartok also signed the circulars. 25 June - He sends requests to Egon Kenton (Kornstein) and composer Albert Szirmai in New York. 30 June - The assignment letter of Harvard University for 1 February to 30 June 1946 arrives together with a fee of 2,500 dollars. - Bartok leaves for Saranac Lake with his wife for the last time. This time they stay at 89 Riverside Drive. 1 July - Bartok writes from here to Jenő Zádor in Hollywood, inquiring about the details of an earlier commission which he accepts in theory. (This was the plan of music publisher Shilkret, a collective piece based on the book of Genesis of which each movement would have been written by different composers living in America, Bartok among others.) He also touches upon staggering Hungarian news: “Extremely devastating news is coming from Hungary: horrible destruction, terrible scarcity, threatening chaos. ... As I see it even the thought of returning home is impossible for now. There would not even be any way: neither means of transport nor [Russian] permits. But even if there were a way, it seems better to me to wait for developments. God knows how many years it will take for the country to pull itself together to any extent [if at all]. Though I would like to go home too, but for good------.” 2 July - He leaves Saranac Lake for Montreal. 3 July - At the Montreal USA Consulate he obtains their new entry clearance to the United States, then he returns to Saranac Lake. 501
