May 15, 1912:
Arthur Victor Berger is born in New York, New York, USA.
March 5, 1941:
La cheminée du roi René op.205 for wind quintet by Darius Milhaud (48) is performed for the first time, at Mills College, Oakland. Also premiered is Quartet in C Major for winds by Arthur Berger (28).
March 20, 1941:
Words for Music, Perhaps, a cycle for voice and piano by Arthur Berger (28) to words of Yeats, is performed for the first time, in San Francisco, the composer at the keyboard.
October 24, 1945:
Serenade Concertante for orchestra by Arthur Berger (33) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (48).
January 26, 1946:
Three Pieces for String Orchestra by Arthur Berger (33) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York. See 17 October 1985.
March 3, 1946:
Three Pieces for string quartet by Arthur Berger (33) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
May 5, 1946:
92nd Psalm for chorus by Arthur Berger (33) is performed for the first time, in Park Avenue Synagogue, New York.
February 20, 1948:
Three Bagatelles for piano by Arthur Berger (35) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of radio station WNYC, originating in New York.
March 18, 1948:
Partita for piano by Arthur Berger (35) is performed for the first time, at Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York.
March 13, 1949:
Extinguish My Eyes, a song for voice and piano by Leonard Bernstein (30) to words of Rilke (tr. Lemont), is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York. Also premiered is Fantasy for piano by Arthur Berger (36).
August 14, 1949:
Aaron Copland (48) is driving in Richmond, Massachusetts, near Tanglewood, with Irving Fine (34) and his wife. In another car are Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Berger (37). Copland accidentally runs into and kills a cow, destroying his car in the process. All survive in tact (except for the cow), but when the police arrive they arrest Copland and hold him until he is bailed out of jail at 02:00 by Fine. Copland will be charged with “operating to endanger” and fined $35 for the cow.
September 17, 1949:
Words for Music, Perhaps, a cycle for voice, flute, clarinet, and cello by Arthur Berger (37) to words of Yeats, is performed for the first time, in Saratoga Springs, New York.
October 22, 1949:
Duo no.1 for violin and piano by Arthur Berger (37) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
February 6, 1951:
Four Two-Part Inventions for piano by Arthur Berger (38) are performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
October 11, 1951:
Duo no.2 for violin and piano by Arthur Berger (40) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
September 7, 1952:
Duo for oboe and clarinet by Arthur Berger (40) is performed for the first time, on Long Island, New York.
November 17, 1952:
Duo for cello and piano by Arthur Berger (40) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
April 11, 1953:
Ideas of Order for orchestra by Arthur Berger (40) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
October 16, 1954:
Three One-Part Inventions for piano by Arthur Berger (42) are performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
November 17, 1956:
Polyphony for orchestra by Arthur Berger (44) is performed for the first time, in Louisville.
June 2, 1957:
Duo for clarinet and piano by Arthur Berger (45) is performed for the first time, at Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
April 4, 1960:
Chamber Music for 13 Players by Arthur Berger (47) is performed for the first time, in Fiesta Hall, Los Angeles.
April 14, 1960:
String Quartet by Arthur Berger (47) is performed for the first time, in Nova Gallery, Boston.
April 15, 1962:
Three Pieces for two pianos by Arthur Berger (49) is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
May 13, 1962:
Piece for Piano and 16 Instruments by Stefan Wolpe (59) is performed for the first time, at the New School, New York conducted by Ralph Shapey (41). Also premiered are Shapey's Dimensions for soprano and 23 instruments and Chamber Concerto by Arthur Berger (49). Shapey will remember it as one of the most exciting days of his life. In the audience are Edgar Varèse (76), Aaron Copland (61), Elliott Carter (53), Milton Babbitt (46), Erich Leinsdorf, Harold Rosenburg, Dore Ashton, Jack Tworkove, and Willem de Kooning. It is a great success.
August 24, 1962:
A funeral service in memory of Irving Fine takes place at the Leah and Mendel Berlin Memorial Chapel of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. Among those attending are Aaron Copland (61), Arthur Berger (50), Leonard Bernstein (43), Leon Kirchner (43), and Richard Wernick (28). His mortal remains are then laid to rest in Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon, Massachusetts.
November 25, 1966:
Septet for flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, and piano by Arthur Berger (54) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
October 11, 1968:
Four of the Five Pieces for piano by Arthur Berger (56) are performed for the first time, in New York.
May 7, 1972:
Trio for violin, guitar, and piano by Arthur Berger (59) is performed for the first time, in London.
January 15, 1978:
Composition for piano four-hands by Arthur Berger (65) is performed for the first time, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston the composer playing one part.
May 4, 1980:
Five Settings of European Poets for tenor and piano by Arthur Berger (67) is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
October 1, 1982:
Trio for violin, cello, and piano by Arthur Berger (70) is performed for the first time, at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, New York.
October 14, 1982:
Perspectives III for piano-four hands by Arthur Berger (70) is performed for the first time, in Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, New York.
March 2, 1983:
Love, Sweet Animal for chorus and piano-four hands by Arthur Berger (70) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
March 16, 1983:
Improvisation for AC, a birthday piece for Aaron Copland (82) for piano by Arthur Berger (70), is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
October 18, 1984:
Quintet for woodwinds by Arthur Berger (72) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
October 17, 1985:
Prelude, Aria, and Waltz for orchestra by Arthur Berger (73) is performed for the first time, in Cambridge, Massachusetts directed by John Harbison (46). It is a reworking of his Three Pieces for String orchestra of 1946. See 26 January 1946.
November 16, 1985:
Perspectives II for chamber ensemble by Arthur Berger (73) is performed for the first time, in Pickman Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
August 2, 1987:
Ode of Ronsard for voice and piano by Arthur Berger (75) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts.
April 29, 1991:
The first meeting of the board of the Aaron Copland (†0) Fund for Music takes place in New York. The board members, named by Copland in his will, include Elliott Carter (82), William Schuman (80), Arthur Berger (78), Jacob Druckman (62), and David Del Tredici (54). Jacob Druckman is chosen as president.
October 7, 2003:
Arthur Berger dies of heart failure in Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, aged 91 years, four months, and 22 days.