July 24, 1880:
Ernst Bloch is born, probably at 1 rue Abauzit, in Geneva, Switzerland, youngest of three children born to Maurice (originally Meyer) Bloch, a merchant of tourist goods, and Sophie Brunschweig.
October 5, 1898:
Ernst Bloch (18) enters the orchestra of Eugene Ysaÿe in Brussels as a violinist. At today’s first rehearsal he is so nervous that he puts soap on his bow so that no one will hear the mistakes. Eventually, Bloch will become acquainted with many members of the Ysaÿe circle, including Claude Debussy (36), Camille Saint-Saëns (62), and Gabriel Fauré (53).
April 12, 1901:
Ernst Bloch (20) is engaged to Margarethe Schneider, a pianist, during a performance of Siegfried.
June 23, 1901:
The symphonic diptych Vivre Aimer, by Ernest Bloch (20) is performed for the first time, in Geneva.
August 13, 1904:
Ernest Bloch (24) marries Margarethe Augusta Schneider, a pianist, in the Town Hall of Geneva.
January 19, 1905:
Historiettes au crepuscule for voice and piano by Ernst Bloch (24) is performed for the first time, in Geneva.
January 27, 1906:
Hiver-Printemps, a symphonic diptych by Ernest Bloch (25), is performed for the first time, under the baton of the composer in Geneva.
January 16, 1907:
Poèmes d’automne for voice and orchestra by Ernst Bloch (26) is performed for the first time, in Geneva directed by the composer.
October 15, 1909:
Ernst Bloch (29) gives his first concert as orchestra conductor in Lausanne.
January 8, 1910:
The Symphony in c# minor by Ernst Bloch (29) is performed completely for the first time, in Geneva. It is very successful.
February 11, 1910:
Ernst Bloch (29) directs his last performance as conductor of the Orchestra of Lausanne.
November 30, 1910:
The opera Macbeth by Ernest Bloch (30) to words of Fleg after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, at the Opéra-Comique, Paris. Reaction is widely mixed.
February 28, 1914:
The first of the Trois poèmes juifs for orchestra by Ernest Bloch (33) is performed for the first time, in Geneva, conducted by the composer. See 23 March 1917.
July 30, 1916:
Ernst Bloch (36) arrives in New York for the first time, as conductor for the dance tour of Maud Allan, eight days out of Liverpool.
August 12, 1916:
Today’s issue of Musical America includes a long article about newly arrived Ernest Bloch (36) written by Bernard Rogers (23).
December 30, 1916:
String Quartet no.1 by Ernest Bloch (36) is performed for the first time, in New York. It is very successful.
March 23, 1917:
Ernest Bloch’s (36) orchestral work Trois poèmes juifs is performed completely for the first time, in Boston, conducted by the composer. See 28 February 1914.
May 3, 1917:
An evening devoted entirely to the music of Ernst Bloch (36) takes place in Carnegie Hall, New York. It includes the premieres of Schelomo for cello and orchestra, the Israel Symphony for two sopranos, two altos, bass, and orchestra, and three psalm settings: 22, 114, and 137. The composer conducts the symphony.
September 27, 1919:
Suite for viola and piano by Ernest Bloch (39) is performed for the first time, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
May 1, 1920:
Martha Sanders composes a letter to Ernst Bloch (39) in New York, asking him if he would like to take up the directorship of what will become the Cleveland Institute of Music.
May 6, 1920:
Ernst Bloch (39) responds affirmatively to the letter of 1 May, accepting the post of director of the Cleveland Institute of Music, if certain requirements of his are met.
July 11, 1920:
The Sunday News-Leader of Cleveland announces that Ernest Bloch (39) will head the new conservatory to be opened in the city on 3 January.
August 25, 1920:
After considerable negotiation and compromise, Ernst Bloch (40) signs a document to become the first director of the Cleveland Institute of Music.
November 5, 1920:
A Suite for viola and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (40) is performed for the first time, in New York. It is not well received. In the audience is Roger Sessions (23) and his new wife.
December 8, 1920:
The Cleveland Institute of Music opens headed by Ernest Bloch (40). Next year, Roger Sessions (23) will be hired for the faculty.
February 20, 1921:
Sonata for violin and piano no.1 by Ernest Bloch (40) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, New York.
December 6, 1921:
Ernest Bloch (41) begins a ten-lecture series for the general public at the Cleveland Institute of Music through 25 April.
November 11, 1923:
The Piano Quintet of Ernest Bloch (43) is performed for the first time, in the Klaw Theatre, New York. Joining Bloch in the audience is his Cleveland Institute colleague, Roger Sessions (26).
February 6, 1924:
Baal Shem for violin and piano by Ernest Bloch (43) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland. See 19 October 1941.
February 12, 1924:
“An experiment in modern music” takes place in Aeolian Hall, New York when Rhapsody in Blue for piano and jazz band by George Gershwin (25) is performed for the first time, the composer at the piano. Among the overflow audience is Ernest Bloch (43), Sergey Rakhmaninov (50), John Philip Sousa (69), Walter Damrosch, Willem Mengelberg, Leopold Stokowski, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, Mary Garden, John McCormack, and Leopold Godowsky. Critics are strongly divided, but the Whiteman band (who plays today) will perform the Rhapsody 84 times in 1924 alone. Also on the program is the premiere of Suite of Serenades for orchestra by Victor Herbert (65). This is the last appearance of Herbert as composer.
March 21, 1924:
Trois nocturnes for piano trio by Ernest Bloch (43) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, New York.
July 25, 1924:
Enfantines for piano by Ernest Bloch (44) is performed for the first time, at the San Francisco Conservatory by the composer.
May 11, 1925:
The board of the Cleveland Institute of Music vote to dismiss its director Ernst Bloch (44). The reason is probably Bloch’s extramarital affair with a very talkative young woman.
May 12, 1925:
Two members of the board of the Cleveland Institute of Music speak to its director, Ernst Bloch (44), in a hallway. They ask him to resign, saying only that he is unpopular. Bloch refuses to resign.
May 13, 1925:
The manager of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Martha Sanders, leaks the 11 May vote to dismiss director Ernest Bloch (44) to the faculty. Roger Sessions (28) is furious and resigns.
May 22, 1925:
The Cleveland Press informs its readers that Ernest Bloch (44) has been sacked as director of the Cleveland Institute of Music.
May 29, 1925:
Concerto grosso no.1 for strings and piano by Ernest Bloch (44) is performed for the first time, in the Hotel Statler, Cleveland, directed by the composer.
November 26, 1925:
Ernest Bloch (45) signs a three-year contract to direct the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
March 20, 1927:
Four Episodes for chamber orchestra by Ernest Bloch (46) is performed for the first time, in the Plaza Hotel, New York.
December 16, 1928:
Abodah for violin and piano by Ernest Bloch (48) is performed for the first time, in Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. The soloist is the young Yehudi Menuhin.
December 20, 1928:
America, an epic Rhapsody for chorus and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (48), the unanimous winner of a prize offered by Musical America for a symphonic work on an American subject, is given simultaneous premieres by the judges: Frederick Stock of the Chicago Symphony, Walter Damrosch of the New York Philharmonic, Leopold Stokowski of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Serge Koussevitzky of the Boston Symphony, and Alfred Hertz of the San Francisco Symphony.
February 11, 1930:
After five years, Ernest Bloch (49) resigns as director of the San Francisco Conservatory.
February 18, 1932:
The symphonic poem Helvetia by Ernest Bloch (51) is performed for the first time, in Chicago. The critics are not impressed.
January 12, 1934:
Sacred Service (Avodath hakodesh) for baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (53), is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of Radio Turin.
September 1, 1935:
The Nazi Party sends out one of several letters listing composers whose music is considered degenerate and may not be played. Among those honored are Erik Satie (†10), Ernst Bloch (55), Joseph Matthias Hauer (52), Alfredo Casella (52), Alban Berg (50), Kurt Weill (35), Ernst Krenek (35), and Aaron Copland (34).
January 21, 1937:
Ernest Bloch’s (56) symphonic poem A Voice in the Wilderness is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles.
August 14, 1937:
Clara Rockmore performs Ernst Bloch’s (57) Schelomo on the Theremin with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The inventor, Lev Sergeyevich Termen (Leon Theremin) (40), is in the audience.
December 10, 1937:
The first concert of the newly founded Ernest Bloch (57) Society takes place in Aeolian Hall, London.
February 11, 1938:
Evocations for orchestra by Ernest Bloch (57), is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.
December 15, 1938:
Ernest Bloch’s (58) Violin Concerto is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
March 15, 1939:
Two Symphonic Interludes from Macbeth by Ernest Bloch (58) is performed for the first time, in Bournemouth.
October 19, 1941:
Baal Shem for violin and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (61) is performed for the first time, in New York.
May 8, 1942:
Ernest Bloch (61) is awarded a gold medal by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the first composer so honored.
March 23, 1945:
Variations on a Theme by Goosens is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati. The theme is followed by variations from Paul Creston, Aaron Copland (44), Deems Taylor, Howard Hanson (48), William Schuman (34), Walter Piston (51), Roy Harris (47), Bernard Rogers (52), Ernst Bloch (64) and Eugene Goosens.
October 26, 1945:
Suite symphonique by Ernest Bloch (65) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
October 9, 1946:
String Quartet no.2 by Ernest Bloch (66) is performed for the first time, in London.
September 3, 1949:
Concerto symphonique for piano and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (69) is performed for the first time, in Edinburgh, the composer conducting.
December 2, 1950:
Scherzo fantastique for piano and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (70) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
December 8, 1950:
Concertino for flute, viola, and strings by Ernest Bloch (70) is performed for the first time, in New York.
January 1, 1953:
Suite Hebraïque for viola and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (72) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
January 4, 1953:
String Quartet no.3 by Ernest Bloch (72) is performed for the first time, in New York.
February 24, 1953:
Concerto Grosso no.2 by Ernest Bloch (72) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of RAI.
April 11, 1953:
Two works by Ernest Bloch (72) are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC originating in London: Sinfonia breve and Concerto Grosso no.2.
July 29, 1954:
String Quartet no.4 by Ernest Bloch (74) is performed for the first time, in Lenox, Massachusetts.
October 26, 1954:
The Jewish Theological Seminary of New York confers on Ernest Bloch (73) an honorary Doctor of Letters.
October 28, 1955:
Ernest Bloch (75) undergoes prostate surgery in Portland, Oregon.
February 15, 1956:
Symphony in E flat by Ernest Bloch (75) is performed for the first time, in London.
April 4, 1956:
Symphony for trombone and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (75) is performed for the first time, in Houston.
March 10, 1957:
Suite modale for flute and piano by Ernest Bloch (76) is performed for the first time, in New York. See 11 April 1965.
May 28, 1957:
Suite no.1 for unaccompanied cello by Ernest Bloch (76) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC.
October 20, 1957:
Suite no.2 for unaccompanied cello by Ernest Bloch (77) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the BBC.
November 18, 1957:
Proclamation for trumpet and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (77) is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 15, 1958:
Piano Quintet no.2 by Ernest Bloch (77) is performed for the first time, at the University of California, Berkeley.
August 29, 1958:
Ernest Bloch (78) undergoes cancer surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, Oregon.
October 5, 1958:
Two Last Poems for flute and orchestra by Ernest Bloch (78) is performed for the first time, in Naples.
January 2, 1959:
Suite no.1 for unaccompanied violin by Ernest Bloch (78) is performed for the first time, in London.
June 27, 1959:
Suite no.2 for unaccompanied violin by Ernest Bloch (78) is performed for the first time, in Aldeburgh.
July 15, 1959:
Ernest Bloch dies in Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, Oregon, USA, of cancer, aged 78 years, eleven months, and 21 days. His earthly remains will be cremated and kept by Mrs. Bloch until her death in 1963. At that time, the two sets of ashes will be spread over the Pacific Ocean.
December 6, 1959:
Piano Quintet no.2 by Ernest Bloch (†0) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
April 11, 1965:
Suite modale for flute and strings by Ernest Bloch (†5) is performed for the first time, at the College of Marin, Kentfield, California. See 10 March 1957.