August 17, 1928:
Thomas Jefferson Anderson is born in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, USA.
October 11, 1959:
Introduction and Allegro for orchestra by TJ Anderson (31) is performed for the first time, in Oklahoma City.
May 3, 1960:
Trio concertante for clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and band by TJ Anderson (31) is performed for the first time, in Langston, Oklahoma.
November 13, 1960:
New Dances for chamber orchestra by TJ Anderson (32) is performed for the first time, in Oklahoma City.
April 22, 1961:
Classical Symphony by TJ Anderson (32) is performed for the first time, in Kansas City, Kansas.
March 25, 1962:
Six Pieces for clarinet and chamber orchestra by TJ Anderson (33) is performed for the first time, in Oklahoma City.
March 15, 1963:
Five Bagatelles for oboe, violin, and harpsichord by TJ Anderson (34) is performed for the first time, at the University of Oklahoma.
April 20, 1964:
Symphony in Three Movements by TJ Anderson (35) is performed for the first time, in Oklahoma City. It is dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy.
August 14, 1964:
Five Etudes and a Fancy for woodwind quintet by TJ Anderson (35) is performed for the first time, in Aspen, Colorado.
February 25, 1966:
Squares, an Essay for orchestra by TJ Anderson (37) is performed for the first time, in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
April 28, 1966:
Personals, a cantata for narrator, chorus, and brass by TJ Anderson (37) to words of Bontemps, is performed for the first time, in Nashville.
May 10, 1968:
Five Portraitures of Two People for piano four hands by TJ Anderson (39) is performed for the first time, in Nashville.
December 6, 1968:
Connections, a Fantasy for string quintet by TJ Anderson (40) is performed for the first time, in Nashville.
April 27, 1969:
In Memoriam Zach Walker for band by TJ Anderson (40) is performed for the first time, in his home town of Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
November 24, 1969:
Chamber Symphony by TJ Anderson (41) is performed for the first time, in Nashville.
May 26, 1970:
Variations on a Theme by MB Tolson for soprano, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, and piano by TJ Anderson (41) to words of Tolson is performed for the first time, in Atlanta.
August 2, 1971:
Transitions, a Fantasy for Ten Instruments by TJ Anderson (42) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts.
March 11, 1972:
This House for male chorus and four pitch pipes by TJ Anderson (43) to his own words is performed for the first time, in Atlanta.
July 8, 1972:
Watermelon for piano by TJ Anderson (43) is performed for the first time, in Bloomington, Indiana.
February 18, 1973:
Swing Set for clarinet and piano by TJ Anderson (44) is performed for the first time, at the University of Iowa.
October 2, 1973:
Beyond Silence, a cantata for tenor, clarinet, trombone, viola, cello, and piano by TJ Anderson (45) to words of Hanson, is performed for the first time, at Busch-Reisinger Museum of Harvard University.
April 7, 1974:
In memoriam Malcolm X for soprano and orchestra by TJ Anderson (45) to words of Hayden is performed for the first time, in Lincoln Center, New York.
May 18, 1974:
Five Easy Pieces for violin, piano, and Jew’s harp by TJ Anderson (45) is performed for the first time, in Winchester, Massachusetts.
April 13, 1976:
Block Songs for soprano and musical toys by TJ Anderson (47) to words of Lomax is performed for the first time, at the Busch-Reisinger Museum of Harvard University.
May 30, 1976:
Fanfare for trumpet and four small bands by TJ Anderson (47) is performed for the first time, in Norfolk, Virginia.
March 12, 1978:
Minstrel Man for bass trombone and percussion by TJ Anderson (49) is performed for the first time, at Brown University.
June 11, 1978:
Re-Creation: A Liturgical Music Drama for speakers, dancer, violin, cello, trumpet, saxophone, piano, and drums by TJ Anderson (49) to words of Forrest is performed for the first time, in Chicago the composer conducting.
September 29, 1978:
Variations on a Theme by Alban Berg for viola and piano by TJ Anderson (50) is performed for the first time, at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
March 4, 1979:
Street Song for piano by TJ Anderson (50) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
April 29, 1979:
Play Me Something for piano by TJ Anderson (50) is performed for the first time, in Weston, Massachusetts.
May 3, 1980:
Messages, a Creole Fantasy for orchestra by TJ Anderson (51) is performed for the first time, in Atlanta.
November 23, 1980:
Vocalise for violin and harp by TJ Anderson (52) is performed for the first time, at Webster College, St. Louis, Missouri.
February 18, 1982:
Inaugural Piece for three trumpets and three trombones by TJ Anderson (53) is performed for the first time, at the City College of New York.
October 23, 1982:
Soldier Boy, Soldier, an opera by TJ Anderson (54) to words of Forrest, is performed for the first time, at Indiana University.
April 15, 1983:
Thomas Jefferson’s Minstrels for baritone, male chorus, and jazz band by TJ Anderson (54) is performed for the first time, at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.
September 2, 1983:
Intermezzo for Solo Clarinet by TJ Anderson (55) is performed for the first time, at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.
May 6, 1984:
Jonestown for children’s chorus and piano by TJ Anderson (55) to words of TJ Anderson III is performed for the first time, at Boston University.
June 6, 1984:
Intermezzo for Solo Saxophone, Intermezzo for Solo Piano, and Intermezzi by TJ Anderson (55) are performed for the first time, at Quartz Mountain, Oklahoma.
November 25, 1985:
In Memoriam: Graham Wooton for organ by TJ Anderson (57) is performed for the first time, in Goddard Chapel, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.
February 12, 1986:
Thomas Jefferson’s Orbiting Minstrels and Contraband for string quartet, woodwind quintet, jazz sextet, dancer, soprano, computer, visuals, and synthesizer by TJ Anderson (57) is performed for the first time, at Northern Illinois University, De Kalb.
December 1, 1986:
What Time Is It? for boys chorus and jazz orchestra by TJ Anderson (58) to his own words is performed for the first time, in New York, directed by the composer.
April 6, 1988:
New works are performed for the first time at Pennsylvania State University: Dialogues for oboe and piano by Leslie Bassett (65), and Echoes for oboe and bassoon by TJ Anderson (59).
April 10, 1988:
Ivesiana for violin, cello, and piano by TJ Anderson (59) is performed for the first time, in Weston, Massachusetts.
May 29, 1988:
Concerto for two violins and chamber orchestra by TJ Anderson (59) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
October 30, 1988:
Chamber Concerto (Remembrances) by TJ Anderson (60) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
April 27, 1990:
Songs of Illumination, a cycle for soprano, tenor, and piano by TJ Anderson (61) to words of TJ Anderson III, is performed for the first time, at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.
June 10, 1990:
Passacaglia and Blues for piano by TJ Anderson (61) is performed for the first time, in Winchester, Massachusetts.
September 21, 1990:
Ancestral Voices for bass and piano by TJ Anderson (62) to words of Forrest is performed for the first time, in Strasbourg.
December 4, 1990:
Dear John, Dear Coltrane for chorus and piano by TJ Anderson (62) to words of Harper is performed for the first time, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
March 15, 1992:
What Ever Happened to the Big Bands? for alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone by TJ Anderson (63) is performed for the first time, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
April 26, 1992:
Egyptian Diary for soprano and percussion by TJ Anderson (63) to words of Kaldas is performed for the first time, at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
June 28, 1993:
Here in the Flesh for congregation and piano by TJ Anderson (64) to words of Masefield is performed for the first time, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
December 9, 1993:
Walker, a chamber opera by TJ Anderson (65) to words of Walcott is performed for the first time, in the Boston Athenaeum.
September 16, 1995:
Seven Cabaret Songs for jazz singer, flute, viola, cello, and piano by TJ Anderson (67) to words of Mullen is performed for the first time, at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. The work is dedicated to William Grant Still (†16) in the centennial year of his birth.
November 12, 1995:
A Musical Kaddish “In Sea” for John Zimarowski for soprano and piano by TJ Anderson (67) to words of Belletini is performed for the first time, at Duke University.
April 20, 1996:
Spring Song for harp by TJ Anderson (67) is performed for the first time, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
March 7, 1997:
Broke Baroque for violin and piano by TJ Anderson (68) is performed for the first time, in Atlanta.
November 1, 1997:
Shouts for oboe, violin, cello, and piano by TJ Anderson (69) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
March 2, 1998:
b Bop in 2 for alto saxophone and two recorders by TJ Anderson (69) is performed for the first time, in Krakow.
March 20, 1998:
Bahia, Bahia for chamber orchestra by TJ Anderson (69) is performed for the first time.
September 11, 1998:
Boogie Woogie Fantasy for piano by TJ Anderson (70) is performed for the first time, at Duke University.
March 4, 1999:
The Suit for male chorus by TJ Anderson (70) to words of Levine is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.
April 9, 1999:
Huh! (What did you say?) for two violins, viola, cello and clarinet by TJ Anderson (70) is performed for the first time. Also premiered is Anderson’s Aurelia, In Memoriam for violin.
July 2, 2000:
Words My Mother Taught Me, a cycle for soprano and piano by TJ Anderson (71) to words of AT Anderson, is performed for the first time, in San Diego.
March 17, 2002:
Slavery Documents 2, a cantata by TJ Anderson (73), is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
September 14, 2002:
Game Play for flute, viola, cello, and harp by TJ Anderson (74) is performed for the first time, in St. Francis Auditorium, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
April 26, 2003:
Slip Knot, an opera by TJ Anderson (74) to words of Komunyakaa, is performed for the first time, at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
December 6, 2003:
Boogie Woogie Concertante for piano, winds, and percussion by TJ Anderson (75) is performed for the first time, at Harvard University.
January 18, 2004:
Spirit Songs for cello and piano by TJ Anderson (75) is performed for the first time, in Durham, North Carolina.
May 18, 2005:
TJ Anderson (76) is elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
March 15, 2006:
Ragged Edge for chamber orchestra by TJ Anderson (77) is performed for the first time, in the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, Chicago.
October 5, 2008:
Two works by TJ Anderson (80) are performed for the first time, at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts: Bird Songs for soprano and rock band, to words of TJ Anderson III, and Jazz Overtones for tenor saxophone, harp, and percussion.
January 9, 2009:
The Wedding Party for poet, visuals, voice, violin, alto saxophone, and tenor saxophone by TJ Anderson (80) is performed for the first time, in the Franklin Hotel, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
February 8, 2009:
Georgian Ragas for alto saxophone and trumpet by TJ Anderson (80) is performed for the first time, in the Walsh Gallery, Chicago.
June 11, 2009:
In memoriam John Hope Franklin for trumpet by TJ Anderson (80) is performed for the first time, at the Duke University Chapel, Durham, North Carolina.
October 17, 2009:
Shells for soprano and piano by TJ Anderson (81) to words of Alexander, is performed for the first time, at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
April 17, 2010:
In Memoriam, Dan Pollitt for accordion by TJ Anderson (81) is performed for the first time, in Community Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
November 13, 2010:
Out of My Eyes: An Obama Celebration for soprano and nine players by TJ Anderson (82) is performed for the first time, in Memorial Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.