March 28, 1930:
Robert Reynolds Ashley is born at 706 Dewey Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, first of three children born to Ward Ashley, a post office clerk, and Nancy Reynolds.
April 27, 1950:
Ward Ashley, father of Robert Ashley (20), suffers a coronary thrombosis and dies at the post office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he has worked for the last 50 years.
April 11, 1954:
Robert Ashley (24) marries Mary Tsaltas, a student at the Massachusetts College of Art, in New York. It is a double wedding with their friends painter George Manupelli and Mary’s art school friend Betty Johnson. The women have taken a bus down to New York, get married on a Sunday, and take the bus back to Boston to be in class on Monday.
February 7, 1955:
Robert Ashley (24) is drafted into the army in Puerto Rico. Ashley is under the mistaken impression that those drafted in Puerto Rico will be stationed in Puerto Rico.
February 9, 1955:
Two days after Robert Ashley (24) is inducted into the army, his wife Mary gives birth to their first child.
March 6, 1960:
Piano Sonata “Christopher Columbus Crosses to the New World in the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria Using Only Dead Reckoning and a Crude Astrolabe” by Robert Ashley (29) is performed for the first time, in Angell Hall of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, by the composer.
August 7, 1960:
Robert Ashley (30), Gordon Mumma (25), Roger Reynolds (26), and George Cacioppo, having driven from Ann Arbor, Michigan, attend a week-long composers’ conference organized by the Canadian League of Composers in Stratford, Ontario. Among the luminaries present are Luciano Berio (34), Edgar Varèse (76), Roy Harris (62), Ernst Krenek (59), and George Rochberg (42). The four decide that they could organize a better conference and by the time they arrive home, they have planned the ONCE Festival.
February 24, 1961:
The first ONCE Festival opens in the First Unitarian Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan, directed by Robert Ashley (30) and Roger Reynolds (26). Luciano Berio (35) is the most illustrious composer present.
February 18, 1962:
Public Opinion Descends upon the Demonstrators, an electronic music theatre by Robert Ashley (31) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 9, 1964:
Boxing, a sound-producing dance by Robert Ashley (34) is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
September 1, 1964:
The Wolfman for vocalist and electronics by Robert Ashley (34) is performed for the first time, in Judson Hall, New York, by the composer, as part of the First New York Festival of the Avant-Garde.
March 21, 1965:
Kitty Hawk (An Antigravity Piece) by Robert Ashley (34) to his own words is performed for the first time, in St. Louis.
May 4, 1965:
Interludes for the Space Theatre, a sound-producing dance by Robert Ashley (35), is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
May 9, 1965:
Two electronic music theatres by Robert Ashley (35) to his own words are performed for the first time, in New York: Combination Wedding and Funeral and The Lecture Series.
September 17, 1965:
Unmarked Interchange, an electronic music theatre by Robert Ashley (35) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 9, 1966:
Orange Dessert, an electronic music theatre by Robert Ashley (36) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
January 7, 1967:
Night Train, an electronic music theatre by Robert Ashley (36) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
February 8, 1968:
That Morning Thing, an opera by Robert Ashley (37) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 30, 1968:
The Trial of Anne Opie Wehrer and Unknown Accomplices for Crimes against Humanity, an electronic music theatre by Robert Ashley (38) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
August 24, 1979:
Robert Ashley (49) marries Mimi Johnson, director of Performing Artservices, an artist management firm.
October 24, 1979:
The early version of Perfect Lives (Private Parts), a video opera by Robert Ashley (53), is performed for the first time, at Northwestern University.
November 19, 1983:
Perfect Lives (Private Parts), a video opera by Robert Ashley (53), is performed for the first time, in a television broadcast originating in New York.
April 14, 1988:
Robert Ashley’s (58) opera eL/Aficionado, scored for two pianos to his own words, is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre national de Marseille.
May 12, 1991:
Outcome Inevitable for flute, oboe, saxophone, bassoon, electronic keyboard, percussion, viola, and bass by Robert Ashley (61) is performed for the first time, in New York.
July 19, 1994:
Now Eleanor’s Idea, an opera by Robert Ashley (64) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre Municipal, Avignon.
May 16, 1997:
Balseros, an opera by Robert Ashley (67) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in the Colony Theatre, Miami Beach.
December 7, 1997:
When Famous Last Words Fail You for voices and orchestra by Robert Ashley (67), to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York. Dennis Russell Davies conducts the work after one reading and the result is profoundly disappointing for the composer.
November 15, 1998:
Dust, an opera by Robert Ashley (68) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Yokohama.
March 22, 2003:
Celestial Excursions, an opera by Robert Ashley (72) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in the Hebbel Theatre, Berlin.
January 17, 2007:
Concrete, an opera by Robert Ashley (76) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in New York.
November 14, 2007:
Hidden Similarities for voice and eight instruments by Robert Ashley (77) is performed for the first time, in The Paradiso, Amsterdam.
March 6, 2008:
Act I of Quicksand, an opera by Robert Ashley (77), is performed for the first time, in New York.
May 6, 2009:
String Trio for Robert Ashley for violin, viola, and cello by Christian Wolff (75) is performed for the first time, in New York.
November 1, 2011:
For Andie Springer for violin and guitar by Robert Ashley (81) is performed for the first time, in New York.
November 3, 2011:
World War III Just the Highlights for voice, three microphones, and sound mixing by Robert Ashley (81), is performed for the first time, in New York.
December 11, 2013:
Mixed Blessings, Indiana by Robert Ashley (83) is performed for the first time, in Brooklyn, New York.
March 3, 2014:
Robert Reynolds Ashley dies of complications of cirrhosis of the liver at his home in New York, New York, USA, aged 83 years, eleven months, and three days. His remains will be cremated.
April 10, 2014:
Crash, an opera by Robert Ashley (†0), is performed for the first time, at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.