December 26, 1926:
Earle Appleton Brown, Jr. is born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, USA, one of four children born to Earle Appleton Brown, Sr., a postmaster, and his wife Grace.
June 28, 1950:
Earle Brown (23) marries Carolyn Rice, a dancer. In 1953 she will become the principal dancer of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
February 10, 1952:
Two Pastorales for prepared piano by John Cage (39) is performed completely for the first time, in the Cherry Lane Theatre, New York. Also premiered are Fugue for David Tudor for piano by Lou Harrison (34), Intermission 4 and Intermission 5 for piano by Morton Feldman (26), Three Pieces for Piano by Earle Brown (25), and For Piano (I) by Christian Wolff (17). It is the first complete performance of Feldman’s Intermissions 1-5. See 5 July 1951 and 9 December 1951.
April 14, 1954:
Twenty-five Pages for 1-25 pianos by Earle Brown (27) is performed for the first time, in Carl Fischer Hall, New York. On the same program is the New York premiere of John Cage’s (41) 4’33” . During the intermission, Cage’s mother asks Brown, “Now Earle, don’t you think that John has gone too far this time?”
April 28, 1954:
Two works are performed for the first time, in Carl Fischer Concert Hall, New York: Intersection 3 for piano by Morton Feldman (28), and Four Systems for variable instrumentation by Earle Brown (27).
May 24, 1955:
A piano reduction of Indices by Earle Brown (28) is performed for the first time, at Bard College, Annandale-on-the-Hudson, New York.
May 30, 1956:
Several new works are performed for the first time, in Carl Fischer Hall, New York: 4 More for one or more pianos by Earle Brown (29), Structures for string quartet and Three Pieces for String Quartet by Morton Feldman (30), and Radio Music by John Cage (43)
July 27, 1957:
Music for cello and piano by Earle Brown (30) is performed for the first time, in Darmstadt.
September 3, 1958:
Connected to his lectures at Darmstadt, John Cage (45) and David Tudor perform the European premieres of several works by Cage, Morton Feldman (32), Earle Brown (31), and the world premiere of Duo for Pianists II by Christian Wolff (24). The audience is in an uproar, mostly consisting of laughter. During these days in Darmstadt, Cage first meets Nam June Paik (26).
September 1, 1959:
Hodograph I for flute, piano/celeste, and percussion by Earle Brown (32) is performed for the first time, in Darmstadt.
September 24, 1960:
A performance by John Cage (48), Merce Cunningham, Earle Brown (33), and others at the Teatro La Fenice during the Venice Biennale causes a near riot. One audience member, Igor Stravinsky (78), does not feel it reaches to the level of his own scandale.
September 9, 1961:
Livre pour quatour V, VI for string quartet by Pierre Boulez (36) are performed for the first time, in Darmstadt. Also premiered is Available Forms I for chamber ensemble by Earle Brown (34), conducted by Bruno Maderna (41).
October 11, 1963:
From Here for 16 solo voices and 20 instrumentalists by Earle Brown (36) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York, conducted by the composer. Alvin Lucier (32) directs the chorus. Also premiered are several works by Morton Feldman (37): Vertical Thoughts 1 for two pianos, performed by David Tudor and John Cage (37), Vertical Thoughts 2 for violin and piano, Vertical Thoughts 3 for soprano, flute/piccolo, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, piano/celesta, violin, cello, and double bass to words of the Psalms, Vertical Thoughts 4 for piano, Vertical Thoughts 5 for soprano, tuba, percussion, celesta, and violin to words of the Psalms, and Straits of Magellan for flute, horn, trumpet, harp, electric guitar, piano, and double bass.
May 6, 1964:
Two works for multiple pianos are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of Radio Bremen: Corroboree for two or three pianos by Earle Brown (37), and Mensura sortis for two pianos by Krzysztof Penderecki (30).
October 16, 1965:
Momente no.13 (1965 version) for soprano, four choruses, and 13 instruments by Karlheinz Stockhausen (37) is performed for the first time, in Donaueschingen directed by the composer. Also premiered is String Quartet by Earle Brown (38).
February 7, 1967:
Modules I&II for orchestra and two conductors by Earle Brown (40) is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris.
February 27, 1967:
Calder Piece for four percussionists and mobile by Earle Brown (40) is performed for the first time, in Théâtre L’Atelier, Paris.
July 20, 1970:
Again for two sopranos, two flutes, two trombones, two double basses, percussion, and tape by Roger Reynolds (36) is performed for the first time, in St. Paul de Vence, France. Lukas Foss (47) is the conductor. Also premiered is Syntagm III for flute, bass clarinet, percussion, celeste, harp, violin, and cello by Earle Brown (43).
September 2, 1972:
Time Spans for orchestra by Earle Brown (45) is performed for the first time, in Munich during the Olympic Games.
September 16, 1972:
New Piece Loops for chorus and orchestra by Earle Brown (45) is performed for the first time, in Teatro La Fenice, Venice.
December 4, 1973:
Centering for violin and ten instruments by Earle Brown (46) is performed for the first time, in Manchester, England.
July 6, 1981:
Windsor Jambs for mezzo voice, alto flute, bass clarinet, piano/celeste, percussion, violin, viola, and cello by Earle Brown (54) is performed for the first time, in the Whitney Museum, New York.
May 11, 1983:
Sounder Rounds for orchestra by Earle Brown (56) is performed for the first time, in Saarbrücken, conducted by the composer.
February 8, 1985:
Tracer for flute, oboe, bassoon, violin, double bass, and four-track tape by Earle Brown (58), is performed for the first time, in Berlin.
February 6, 1999:
Special Events for piano and cello by Earle Brown (72) is performed for the first time, in the Theaterhaus, Stuttgart.
July 2, 2002:
Earle Appleton Brown dies of cancer at his home in Rye, New York, USA, aged 75 years, six months, and seven days. His earthly remains will be laid to rest in the North Cemetery of his native town, Lunenberg, Massachusetts.