May 26, 1938:
William Elden Bolcom is born in Seattle, Washington, USA, the son of Robert Samuel Bolcom and Virginia Lauermann.
April 30, 1959:
Concert Piece for clarinet and piano by William Bolcom (20) is performed for the first time, at Mills College, Oakland by Morton Subotnick (26) and the composer.
December 21, 1963:
Dynamite Tonite, a cabaret opera by William Bolcom (25) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, at the Actor’s Studio Theatre conducted by the composer.
December 23, 1963:
William Bolcom (25) marries Fay Levine.
May 12, 1965:
Session I for flute/piccolo, oboe/english horn, bassoon, trombone, viola, cello, and percussion by William Bolcom (26) is performed for the first time, in Berlin conducted by Luciano Berio (39).
September 21, 1965:
Dream Music no.1 for piano by William Bolcom (27) is performed for the first time, in Berlin by the composer.
June 8, 1968:
William Bolcom (30) marries Katherine Agee Ling, his second wife.
March 15, 1969:
Dream Music no.2 for harpsichord and percussion by William Bolcom (30) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
May 8, 1969:
Greatshot, a cabaret opera by William Bolcom (30) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, at Yale University conducted by the composer.
May 31, 1970:
Dark Music for timpani and cello by William Bolcom (32) is performed for the first time, at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington.
October 19, 1970:
Chorale Prelude on Abide with Me for organ by William Bolcom (32) is performed for the first time, in Everett, Washington by the composer.
July 21, 1971:
Frescoes for two keyboard players by William Bolcom (33) is performed for the first time, in Montreal.
August 6, 1973:
Duo Fantasy for violin and piano by William Bolcom (35) is performed for the first time, in Portland, Oregon, the composer at the keyboard.
August 9, 1973:
Summer Divertimento for orchestra by William Bolcom (35) is performed for the first time, in Portland, Oregon.
October 18, 1975:
Open House, a cycle for tenor and chamber orchestra by William Bolcom (37) to words of Roethke, is performed for the first time.
November 15, 1975:
Seasons for guitar by William Bolcom (37) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
November 28, 1975:
William Bolcom (37) marries Joan Clair Morris, his third wife.
October 23, 1977:
First Piano Quartet by William Bolcom (39) is performed for the first time, in Lincoln Center, New York.
July 18, 1978:
The first volume of Cabaret Songs for medium voice and piano by William Bolcom (40) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time.
January 12, 1979:
Second Sonata for violin and piano by William Bolcom (40) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington, the composer at the keyboard.
March 2, 1979:
Theatre of the Absurd for live actor, taped actors, electronic tapes, wind quintet, and piano by William Bolcom (40) to his own words is performed for the first time, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
July 27, 1979:
Three Donald Hall Songs for medium voice, flute, clarinet, horn, cello, and piano by William Bolcom (41) are performed for the first time, in Charlemont, Massachusetts, the composer at the piano.
September 15, 1979:
Symphony no.3 by William Bolcom (41) is performed for the first time.
November 1, 1979:
Afternoon: a Cakewalk-Rag Suite for clarinet, violin, and piano by William Bolcom (41) is performed for the first time, in City Center, New York.
December 3, 1979:
Humoresk for organ and orchestra by William Bolcom (41) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
July 7, 1980:
Brass Quintet by William Bolcom (42) is performed for the first time, in Aspen.
May 4, 1982:
Ragomania: A Classical Overture for Orchestra by William Bolcom (43) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 8, 1984:
Songs of Innocence and of Experience: A Musical Illumination of the William Blake Poems for soloists, chorus and orchestra by William Bolcom (45) is performed for the first time, in Stuttgart.
April 11, 1984:
Songs of Innocence and Experience, a Musical Illumination of the Poems of William Blake, a stage work by William Bolcom (45), is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
June 3, 1984:
Concerto in D for violin and orchestra by William Bolcom (46) is performed for the first time.
April 13, 1985:
Orphee-Serenade for eight players by William Bolcom (46) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
June 19, 1985:
Little Suite of Four Dances for E flat clarinet and piano by William Bolcom (47) is performed for the first time.
January 26, 1986:
Fantasia Concertante for viola, cello, and orchestra by William Bolcom (47) is performed for the first time, in Vienna.
March 5, 1986:
Seattle Slew (Dance Suite) for orchestra by William Bolcom (47) is performed for the first time, in Seattle.
July 4, 1986:
Liberty Enlightening the World for band by William Bolcom (48) is performed for the first time.
March 13, 1987:
Fourth Symphony for medium voice and orchestra by William Bolcom (48) to words of Roethke is performed for the first time.
March 30, 1987:
Twelve New Etudes for Piano by William Bolcom (48) is performed completely for the first time, at Temple University in Philadelphia. It will win the Pulitzer Prize. See 31 March 1988.
August 14, 1987:
Five Fold Five for woodwind quintet and piano by William Bolcom (49) is performed for the first time, in Saratoga Springs, New York.
November 7, 1987:
Spring Concertino for oboe and chamber orchestra by William Bolcom (49) is performed for the first time.
March 11, 1988:
Capriccio for cello and piano by William Bolcom (49) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
March 31, 1988:
William Bolcom (49) is awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his Twelve New Etudes for Piano. See 30 March 1987.
January 25, 1989:
Tenth String Quartet by William Bolcom (50) is performed for the first time, at Stanford University.
January 11, 1990:
Symphony no.5 by William Bolcom (51) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
April 4, 1990:
Casino Paradise, a musical theatre opera by William Bolcom (51) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
May 3, 1990:
Sonata for cello and piano by William Bolcom (51) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
August 4, 1990:
MCMXC Tanglewood for orchestra by William Bolcom (52) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts.
October 12, 1990:
The Mask, a cycle for chorus and piano by William Bolcom (52) to words of five writers, is performed for the first time.
December 18, 1990:
Two works for male chorus and piano by William Bolcom (52) are performed for the first time: Maha Sonnet for male chorus and piano to words of Weinstein, and The More Loving One to words of Auden.
March 26, 1991:
I Will Breathe a Mountain, a cycle for medium voice and piano by William Bolcom (52) to various American women poets, is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
April 19, 1991:
Broadside: Ceremonial for Winds by William Bolcom (52) is performed for the first time.
July 16, 1991:
Converging on the Mountain for brass, percussion, and organ by William Bolcom (53) is performed for the first time, in Aspen, Colorado.
December 17, 1991:
Recuerdos for two pianos by William Bolcom (53) is performed for the first time, at the Murray Dranoff two-piano competition in Miami.
January 3, 1992:
Concerto for clarinet and orchestra by William Bolcom (53) is performed for the first time, in New York.
January 25, 1992:
Simple Stories for voices and instruments by William Bolcom (53) to words of Hall is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
June 4, 1992:
Vaslav’s Song for baritone and piano by William Bolcom (54) to words of Eichelberger is performed for the first time.
September 20, 1992:
Dedicace: A Small Measure of Affection for piano four-hands by William Bolcom (54) is performed for the first time.
October 31, 1992:
McTeague, an opera by William Bolcom (54) to words of Weinstein and Altman, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
November 24, 1992:
Alleluia for chorus by William Bolcom (54) is performed for the first time.
April 19, 1993:
Tillinghast Duo for voice and piano by William Bolcom (54) is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles.
July 12, 1993:
Third Sonata (Sonata Stramba) for violin and piano by William Bolcom (55) is performed for the first time, in Aspen, Colorado.
October 27, 1993:
Lyric Concerto for flute and orchestra by William Bolcom (55) is performed for the first time.
November 16, 1993:
Camp Shadywillow for voice and piano by William Bolcom (55) to words of Tillinghast is performed for the first time, in New York.
March 24, 1994:
Let Evening Come, a cycle for soprano, viola, and piano by William Bolcom (55) to words of Angelou, Dickinson, and Kenyon, is performed for the first time, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
March 25, 1994:
Trio for clarinet, violin, and piano by William Bolcom (55) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
April 6, 1994:
Sonata for two pianos in one movement by William Bolcom (55) is performed for the first time, at Purdue University.
August 14, 1994:
A Haunted Labyrinth for piano by William Bolcom (56) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
March 11, 1995:
Tres Piezas Lindas for flute and guitar by William Bolcom (56) is performed for the first time, at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
June 24, 1995:
A Whitman Triptych for mezzo-soprano and orchestra by William Bolcom (57) is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.
April 11, 1996:
Gaea for two pianos-left hand and orchestra by William Bolcom (57) is performed for the first time, in Baltimore.
April 21, 1996:
Fanfare for the Detroit Opera House: Fantasia for Four Voices for brass by William Bolcom (57) is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
July 12, 1996:
Suite no.1 for cello by William Bolcom (58) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts.
September 15, 1996:
Spring Trio: A Bouquet of Traditional Flower Rags for violin, cello, and piano by William Bolcom (58) is performed for the first time, at the University of Virginia.
September 27, 1996:
Briefly It Enters for soprano and piano by William Bolcom (58) to words of Kenyon is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
December 10, 1996:
Second Piano Quartet by William Bolcom (58) is performed for the first time, at the Kennedy Center, Washington.
January 18, 1997:
Molto Adagio for orchestra by William Bolcom (58) is performed for the first time.
January 26, 1997:
Fourth Sonata for violin and piano by William Bolcom (58) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan the composer at the keyboard.
April 27, 1997:
Turbulence: A Romance for soprano, baritone, and piano by William Bolcom (58) to words of Fulton is performed for the first time, in Minneapolis.
May 12, 1997:
Classical Action Variations for orchestra is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York. It consists of an original theme by Jonathan Sheffer followed by variations by composers including David Del Tredici (60), William Bolcom (59), and John Corigliano (58). It is a benefit for the organization Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS.
September 19, 1997:
Fanfare for a new President for band by William Bolcom (59) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
September 23, 1997:
A Gentle Little Fanfare for orchestra by William Bolcom (59) is performed for the first time.
October 3, 1997:
Three Delgado Palacios Dances for orchestra by William Bolcom (59) is performed for the first time.
December 2, 1997:
Cabaret Songs, a cycle for medium voice and piano by William Bolcom (59) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, at the 92nd Street Y, New York.
February 26, 1998:
Sixth Symphony by William Bolcom (59) is performed for the first time.
November 22, 1998:
Celestial Dinner Music for flute and harp by William Bolcom (60) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
April 9, 1999:
Concert Suite for alto saxophone and band by William Bolcom (60) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
October 9, 1999:
A View from the Bridge, an opera by William Bolcom (61) to words of Weinstein and Miller, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
January 16, 2000:
The Digital Wonder Watch (An Advertisement) for voice and piano by William Bolcom (61) to words of Swenson is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
March 4, 2000:
The Miracle, nine madrigals after Giovanni Pascoli for male chorus, woodwind quintet, and percussion by William Bolcom (61) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
March 10, 2001:
Piano Quintet by William Bolcom (62) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
March 16, 2001:
From the Diary of Sally Hemings for voice and piano by William Bolcom (62) to words of Seaton is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
March 22, 2001:
Rhyme, a song for voice and piano by William Bolcom (62) to words of Tillinghast, is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 6, 2001:
Song for band by William Bolcom (62) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 29, 2002:
Old Addresses, a cycle for voice and piano by William Bolcom (63), is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
May 19, 2002:
Seventh Symphony: A Symphonic Concerto by William Bolcom (63) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
March 5, 2003:
Medusa, a monodrama by William Bolcom (64), is performed for the first time, in a concert setting in Stuttgart. See 26 June 2003.
March 7, 2003:
May-Day for chorus by William Bolcom (64) is performed for the first time, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
April 10, 2003:
Inventing Flight for orchestra by William Bolcom (64) is performed for the first time, in North Carolina.
May 4, 2003:
The Rhodora for chorus by William Bolcom (64) is performed for the first time, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
June 26, 2003:
Medusa, a monodrama by William Bolcom (65), is staged for the first time, in Cincinnati. See 5 March 2003.
June 28, 2003:
A Seattle Overture by William Bolcom (65) is performed for the first time, to open Marian Oliver McCaw Hall in Seattle.
October 25, 2003:
The Eleventh String Quartet of William Bolcom (65) is performed for the first time, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
December 11, 2004:
A Wedding, an opera by William Bolcom (66) to words of Weinstein and Altman, after Altman’s film, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
October 23, 2005:
Serenata Notturna for oboe and string quartet by William Bolcom (68) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
March 31, 2006:
Four Preludes on Jewish Melodies for organ by William Bolcom (67) is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
July 2, 2006:
Nine New Bagatelles for piano by William Bolcom (68) is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles.
July 8, 2006:
Two Meditations for chorus and organ by William Bolcom (68) to words of Herbert are performed for the first time, in St. Mary’s, Ealing, London.
September 15, 2006:
Canciones de Lorca for tenor and orchestra by William Bolcom (68) is performed for the first time, in the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, California.
November 9, 2006:
William Bolcom (68) is presented with the National Medal of Arts by US President George Bush in a ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington.
January 21, 2008:
Ballade for piano by William Bolcom (69) is performed for the first time, in Merkin Hall, New York.
February 7, 2008:
Octet: Double Quartet by William Bolcom (69) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
February 28, 2008:
Symphony no.8 by William Bolcom (69) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
March 11, 2008:
Lucrezia for five singers and two players by William Bolcom (69) is performed for the first time, in Weill Hall, New York.
May 3, 2008:
Four Piedmont Choruses for chorus and piano by William Bolcom (69) to words of Byer is performed for the first time, at Salem College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
June 7, 2008:
A Song for St. Cecelia’s Day for chorus and organ by William Bolcom (70) to words of Dryden is performed for the first time, in Rockefeller Memorial Chapel of the University of Chicago.
May 9, 2009:
Lady Liberty for chorus and piano by William Bolcom (70) to words of Weinstein is performed for the first time, simultaneously in Lexington, Massachusetts and Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 23, 2010:
William Bolcom’s (71) arrangement of his opera A View from the Bridge, to words of Miller and Weinstein, is performed for the first time, at the University of Texas in Austin. It is a reduced orchestration. See 9 October 1999.
May 6, 2010:
Romanza, a concerto for violin and orchestra by William Bolcom (71), is performed for the first time, at the First Congregational Church, Berkeley, California.
May 11, 2010:
Le Fantôme du Clavecin for harpsichord by William Bolcom (71) is performed for the first time, in the Handel House, London.
July 2, 2010:
Speedgetsem for band by William Bolcom (72) is performed for the first time, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
October 20, 2010:
The Hawthorn Tree for mezzo-soprano, piano, flute, oboe, viola, and contrabass by William Bolcom (72) is performed for the first time, at the Morgan Library, New York.
November 18, 2010:
Prometheus for chorus, orchestra, and solo piano by William Bolcom (72) to words of Byron is performed for the first time, in Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa, California.
February 4, 2011:
Two new works are performed for the first time, in Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan: Lost Vegas for band by Michael Daugherty (56) and Concerto grosso for saxophone quartet and band by William Bolcom (72). Bolcom’s is his arrangement of his orchestral score. See October 20, 1999.
February 18, 2011:
Laura Sonnets for voice and piano by William Bolcom (72) to words of Angelou, Dickinson, and Kenyon are performed for the first time, at the University of Georgia in Athens.
March 20, 2011:
Rag Latino for piano by William Bolcom (72) is performed for the first time, in Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
January 19, 2012:
Chestnuts for four solo voices and piano by William Bolcom (73) to words of Tennyson, Bridges, Stevenson, and Longfellow is performed for the first time, in Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York.
March 24, 2012:
Piano Quintet no.2 by William Bolcom (73) is performed for the first time, in Madison, Wisconsin.
April 21, 2012:
A Little Night Fughetta for piano by William Bolcom (73) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Space, New York.
October 12, 2012:
Symphony no.9 by William Bolcom (74) is performed for the first time, in Houston.
February 5, 2013:
Suite no.2 for violin by William Bolcom (74) is performed for the first time, in Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, Colorado.
March 3, 2013:
Four works for chorus are performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York: Starlight by Thea Musgrave (84) to words of Longfellow, Why Was Cupid a Boy? by William Bolcom (74) to words of Blake, The Devil’s Game by Richard Wernick (79), and Descending by Joan Tower (74).
May 2, 2013:
Solace for chorus and chime by William Bolcom (74), to words of Allen, is performed for the first time, in Hartford, Connecticut.
May 31, 2013:
Games and Challenges for soloists and orchestra by William Bolcom (75) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
June 30, 2013:
Aria for guitar by William Bolcom (75) is performed for the first time, in Louisville, Kentucky.
March 7, 2014:
Chabrieriana for piano-four hands by William Bolcom (75) is performed for the first time, in the Mona Bismarck Center, Paris.
August 8, 2014:
Circus Overture for orchestra by William Bolcom (76) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts.
August 15, 2014:
Millennium, a concerto-fantasia for orchestra by William Bolcom (76) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
October 6, 2014:
Five Cabaret Songs for voice and band by William Bolcom (76) is performed completely for the first time, in Lawrence, Kansas.
February 25, 2015:
Of Love Of You for voice and piano by William Bolcom (76) to words of Weinstein, is performed for the first time, in New York. Also premiered is Bolcom’s Sentimental Waltz for piano-four hands.
March 13, 2015:
William Bolcom’s (76) arrangement for band of his Circus Overture is performed for the first time, in Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
April 11, 2015:
Fantasia for organ and brass quintet by William Bolcom (76) is performed for the first time, in Evansville, Indiana.
August 15, 2015:
Housemusic for flute and piano by William Bolcom (77) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
August 30, 2015:
The Vicarage Garden for harpsichord by William Bolcom (77) is performed for the first time, in Charlemont, Massachusetts.
February 11, 2018:
The Walrus and the Carpenter for voice and piano by William Bolcom (79), to words of Carroll, is performed for the first time, at Milton Academy, Milton, Minnesota.
April 29, 2018:
Dark Dreams That Will Not Disappear for viola and piano by William Bolcom (79) is performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York, in a concert celebrating his 80th birthday.
June 9, 2018:
Quartettsatz by William Bolcom (80) is performed for the first time, in Seligman Performing Arts Center, Beverly Hills, Michigan.
September 15, 2018:
Ann Arbor Saturday for orchestra by William Bolcom (80) is performed for the first time, in Michigan Theatre, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
September 20, 2018:
Horn Trio for horn, violin, and piano by William Bolcom (80) is performed for the first time, in King Center Recital Hall, Denver, Colorado.