Bartók Béla, ifj.: Chronicles of Béla Bartók's Life (Budapest, 2021)
Connecting to the Music Life of Europe (1904–1906)
CONNECTING TO THE MUSIC LIFE OF EUROPE (1 904-1 906) 1904 26 February - Bowdon. He signs a photo for János Richter with a quote from a music score. 27 February - Manchester. “Piano participation” upon Dohnányis recommendation. Around 29 February - He goes to London for 6 days, he is staying with Mrs Oliverson, a patron of the arts, he goes for many drives. 2 March - He goes to the theatre, but doesn’t like the play. He leaves London for Berlin, where he stays at 65 Steglitzer Strasse. 7 March - He writes a letter to his mother. He describes János Richter as a very kind and good man but impressionable, so it is doubtful whether he would organise appearances for him later on. He is also inquiring about the possibilities of a stay in Gerlice Puszta [Turtle-dove Plain] planned for the summer. 17March - Berlin. Letter to Lajos Dietl in Vienna, written already in familiar terms - it’s by his intercession that Bartok sells 4 Songs (composed in 1902) and 4 Piano Pieces (1903) in perpetuity to the Ferenc Bárd and Son firm for 400 K (crowns). He writes about living in utter seclusion, and looking into all 5 branches of the arts, furthermore he is inquiring about the possibility of a concert in Vienna. (The concert took place on 18 February 1905.) 19 March - The chief constable of Nagyszentmiklós issues Bartok a testimonial about him being entitled to the reduction of one-year volunteering. 31 March - From Berlin he writes a postcard to to his mother. 5 April - He gets a certificate of residence (No. 3163/04) in Nagyszentmiklós. 29 April - From Berlin he sends greetings to his sister who is on a visit in Vésztő-Kertmeg Puszta (it ’s s at this time that he meets Emil Oláh Tóth overseer, later her husband). At the beginning of May Bartok is preparing for a 2-day visit to Pozsony and from there for a longer stay with the Fischer family in Gerlice Puszta (outskirts of Ratko community) in Gömör-Kishont county. 73
