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) 1938 while pressing for the still uncertain Brussels contract. 24 October - He writes Storm Bull in Chicago, and sends Mrs Zoltán Székely congratulations upon the birth of their son; but even in this joyful letter he writes: “One should go away from here, from the vicinity of that country of pestilence, far far away, but where to: Greenland, Cape Colony, Tierra del Fuego, Fiji, or even the Almighty doesn’t know where! ...”. 27 October - He catches a cold, cannot go out. In the meantime the Brussels agreement was established. 28 October - He informs Endre Gertler of the time of his arrival to Brussels, also of a few necessary changes in Országh ’s transcription (Bartók-Országh) of Hungarian Folk Songs. 29 October - He acknowledges the Brussels contract to Antonia Kossar. 31 October - Home premiere of Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussions performed by Béla Bartok, Mrs Bartok b. Ditta Pásztory, József Jegesi and Sándor Vigdorovits at the concert of the Philharmonic Society conducted by Ernest Ansermet at the Budapest Opera House. (“.. .for beaters and thumpers” - writes Bartok in his mother’s printed concert programme.) 1 November - He visits his mother and aunt. 2 November - He writes Endre Gertler in Brussels again of his arrival on 5 November. - He sends a medical fee of 20 pengős to his mothers medical attendant Dr. István Rothmann through lawyer István Gold. 4 November - While still in Budapest, he writes Antonia Kossar with annoyance that the programme got changed once again, then leaves for Brussels. 5 November - He arrives in the evening. He stays at music lover Henry Quersins home at 114 Louise Avenue. 7 November - He writes his mother and aunt that they are rehearsing diligently and he feels fine at his host’s. 8 November - In Antwerpen Bartok concert of “Live Art” at the Royal 431
