When I met Tomoko in 1983, the first question she asked me
was: “Who is your favorite composer?” I answered “Béla Bartók.” Tomoko was impressed
because he is usually not mentioned among the Big Bs (Bach, Beethoven and
Brahms). Bartók has a way to connecting people, and there are many
pieces of evidence that link Tomoko and her family to him.
One of the first connections between Bartók
and Tomoko was Bartók’s country of birth: Hungary. Tomoko’s husband Desi was a
Hungarian refugee. Like Desi, Bartók had to leave his country; when his
father died, Bartók (age seven) and his sister were taken by mother first to
the Ukraine and then to Slovakia. Indeed, when World War II started, Bartók immigrated
to America; Desi immigrated because of the Hungarian Revolution. Tomoko also immigrated
to the US as an adult.
Like Tomoko, Bartók started piano lessons as a young boy.
Unlike Tomoko, Bartók wrote his first piano composition at age nine, and performed
at his first public piano recital at age 11.
Also like Tomoko, Bartók was influenced by the music
of Richard Strauss, Debussy, and Brahms.
Both Tomoko and Bartók appreciate folk music. Interestingly,
Bartók
started his interest in folk music when he heard an nanny singing folk songs to
the little children she took care of. Tomoko routinely sang Japanese nursery
songs to her daughter Beata when she was a baby, and how both of them sing
those same traditional songs to Beata’s son Kai.
Both Tomoko and Bartók are nature lovers. Nature inspired Bartók
in his Night music, which evoked sounds of nature. Another example is his Out
of Doors sonata.
Moreover, both Bartók and Tomoko recorded their
performances, and both were music teachers. Among Tomoko’s CD recording are
pieces by Bartók, making a full circle in their relationship.
