BARTÓK Béla (1881 - 1945) Lot n° 6

2 L.A.S., February 7 and 18, 1935, to Emil TELMÁNYI; postcard, address on reverse, and 1 1/2 pages in-8 (binder holes); in Hungarian. About his 2nd Rhapsody for violin. [The Hungarian violinist and conductor Emil TELMÁNYI (1892-1988) was a friend of Bartók's and played many of his works] Zürich February 7. Unfortunately Bartók plays in Szeged on March 9, but in any case the affair would not have been possible because Bartók is "on strike" in Budapest: he does not play his works there! But he highly recommends György Kósa, with whom he would like to study the piano part so that he can play it according to his intentions. - More importantly, there are some lengths in the second part of the 2nd Rhapsody; he has tried to improve it with small cuts, and he would like Telmányi to play it in this improved form. As soon as he returns home, he will send him the changes. He asks humorously if it is not dangerous to play things like that of "cultural bolshevism" ("kulturbolsevista") in Berlin?! Budapest February 18. He sends the changes for the Friss [2nd part quickly] of the 2nd Rhapsody. They are written in such a way that they can be pasted into the score. The old "coda" is perhaps more interesting in detail but does not make a good eff and as a whole. The new "coda" may be a bit too "popular", but in the case of a "coda" eventually it is not necessarily bad. So it should be tried in this new form. Of course, he also changed these passages in the orchestral score. If Telmányi ever plays it with an orchestra, he should inform Bartók at least six weeks in advance so that he can correct these passages in the instrumental parts... Attached is a small L.A.S. to a lady, Budapest December 25, 1935 (1 page oblong small in-12, signature on the back; in Hungarian). He thanks her warmly for her friendly memory and her good wishes. He and his wife send him their best wishes for the New Year.