January 5, 1871:
Frederick Shepherd Converse is born at the home of his parents on Centre Street on the corner of Cabot Street in Newton, Massachusetts, USA, the youngest of seven children born to Edmund Winchester Converse, a successful businessman in dry goods importation, and Charlotte Augusta Shepherd Albree.
June 12, 1893:
Sonata for violin and piano op.2 by Frederick Shepherd Converse (22) is performed for the first time, at a concert for the Harvard University commencement. See 28 June 1893.
June 28, 1893:
Frederick Shepherd Converse (22) graduates from Harvard University.
November 6, 1893:
Five months after graduating from Harvard University, Frederick S. Converse (22) is hired by Price & Co., a Boston banking firm.
January 19, 1894:
This is the last day for Frederick S. Converse (23) at his job in a Boston banking firm. He has decided to pursue music as a career.
June 6, 1894:
Frederick Shepherd Converse (23) marries Emma Cecile Tudor of Boston in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookline.
January 13, 1899:
The first movement of the Symphony in d minor by Frederick Shepherd Converse (28) is performed for the first time, in Boston. It is well received by audience and critics.
December 21, 1900:
Festival of Pan, a symphonic poem by Frederick S. Converse (29), is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
February 2, 1903:
Frederick S. Converse (32) receives a letter from the President of Harvard University offering him a position on the faculty. Converse accepts and in June he will be officially appointed.
March 29, 1903:
La Belle Dame sans merci op.12, a ballade for baritone and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (32) to words of Keats, is performed for the first time, with piano accompaniment, in a private setting at St. Botolph’s Club, Boston. See 2 March 1906.
April 9, 1903:
Endymion’s Narrative, a symphonic poem by Frederick S. Converse (32), is performed for the first time, in Boston.
May 28, 1903:
Euphrosyne, an overture by Frederick S. Converse (32), is performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 19, 1904:
Three Love Songs op.14 for voice and piano by Frederick S. Converse (33) to words of Meredith, Shelley, and Keats, are performed for the first time, in Boston.
October 27, 1904:
String Quartet in a minor by Frederick S. Converse (33) is performed for the first time, at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.
January 10, 1905:
Two Songs op.17 for voice and piano by Frederick S. Converse (34) to words of Rossetti and Tennyson, are performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 20, 1905:
Night and Day op.11 for piano and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (34) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
March 3, 1905:
The Mystic Trumpeter, a symphonic poem by Frederick S. Converse (34), is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
January 31, 1906:
The Pipe of Desire, an opera by Frederick S. Converse (35) to words of Barton, is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston. Critics love the music, hate the libretto.
February 26, 1906:
Two Songs op.20 for voice and piano by Frederick S. Converse (35) to words of DG Rossetti are performed publicly for the first time, in Boston.
March 2, 1906:
La Belle Dame sans merci op.12, a ballade for baritone and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (35) to words of Keats, is performed for the first time with orchestral accompaniment, in Boston. See 29 March 1903.
September 25, 1906:
Laudate Dominum op.22, a motet for male chorus, organ, and brass by Frederick S. Converse (35), is performed for the first time, at the opening ceremonies for new buildings of the Harvard Medical School.
October 15, 1906:
Incidental music to MacKaye’s play Jeanne d’Arc by Frederick S. Converse (35) is performed for the first time, at the Lyric Theatre in Philadelphia. See 10 January 1907.
December 1, 1906:
Henry Russell meets with Frederick S. Converse (35) to enlist artistic support for his plans to found a Boston Opera Company.
January 2, 1907:
Frederick S. Converse (35) visits President Eliot of Harvard University and resigns from the faculty effective 1 September. With all the composing, performing, and publishing, he has no time to teach.
January 10, 1907:
An orchestral suite from the incidental music to Jeanne d’Arc by Frederick S. Converse (36) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
September 2, 1907:
The resignation of Frederick S. Converse (36) from Harvard University becomes effective. See 2 January 1907.
October 2, 1907:
Job, a dramatic poem for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (36) to words from the Bible, is performed for the first time, in Mechanics Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts.
October 3, 1908:
Frederick S. Converse (37) and his family sail from Boston heading for Europe. He will try to make his music known and performed there.
October 27, 1908:
Frederick S. Converse (37) and his family arrive at their new home in Vivez, Switzerland.
November 30, 1908:
In an official ceremony, the cornerstone is laid for the new Boston Opera House. Inside the stone is a compartment containing compositions by John Knowles Paine (†2), Edward MacDowell (†0), George Whitefield Chadwick (54), Charles Martin Loeffler (47), Horatio Parker (45), Amy Beach (41), and Frederick S. Converse (37).
March 18, 1910:
The Pipe of Desire by Frederick S. Converse (39) becomes the first opera by an American to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
March 3, 1911:
The Sacrifice, an opera by Frederick S. Converse (40) to words of Macy and the composer, is performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 26, 1912:
Ormazd, a symphonic poem by Frederick S. Converse (41) is performed for the first time, in St. Louis.
September 11, 1913:
Sanctuary, A Bird Masque by Frederick S. Converse (42) and Arthur Farwell (41) to words of Mackaye, is performed for the first time, in Meriden, New Hampshire.
May 28, 1914:
The Masque of St. Louis, an historical pageant by Frederick S. Converse (43) to words of MacKaye, is performed for the first time, in Forest Park, St. Louis to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city.
August 11, 1915:
The Peace Pipe, a cantata for baritone solo, chorus, and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (44) is performed for the first time, in New York state.
January 26, 1917:
Ave Atque Vale for orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (46) is performed for the first time, in St. Louis.
August 2, 1917:
Frederick S. Converse (46) enlists in the Massachusetts State Guard.
June 19, 1919:
The Answer of the Stars, a cantata by Frederick S. Converse (48) to words of Howe, is performed for the first time, for commencement day ceremonies of the Harvard Alumni Association.
June 20, 1919:
Frederick S. Converse (48) receives an honorable discharge from the Massachusetts State Guard.
January 30, 1920:
Symphony no.2 by Frederick S. Converse (49) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston. Reviews are fairly positive.
April 21, 1922:
Symphony no.3 by Frederick S. Converse (51) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
August 24, 1923:
Puritan Passions, a film with music supplied by Frederick S. Converse (52), is performed for the first time, in Manchester, Massachusetts the composer at the piano. See 14 October 1923.
October 14, 1923:
Puritan Passions, a film with music supplied by Frederick S. Converse (52), is performed for the first time in an orchestral setting, in the Cameo Theatre, New York. See 24 August 1923.
December 18, 1923:
Scarecrow Sketches, a symphonic suite from the opera Puritan Passions by Frederick S. Converse (52), is performed for the first time, in Boston.
April 18, 1924:
Song of the Sea, a tone poem by Frederick S. Converse (53), is performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 19, 1926:
Frederick S. Converse (55) is awarded the David Bispham Medal by the American Opera Society of Chicago, for his opera The Pipe of Desire.
December 2, 1926:
Elegiac Poem for orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (55) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
April 15, 1927:
Flivver 10,000,000, a Joyous Epic: Fantasy for Orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (56) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston. It is very well received by the public and the press.
April 6, 1928:
California for orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (57) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
April 7, 1931:
A funeral in memory of George Whitefield Chadwick takes place in Trinity Church, Boston. Among the honorary pallbearers are Frederick S. Converse (60) and Charles Martin Loeffler (70). His mortal remains are laid to rest in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.
April 27, 1932:
Piano Trio in e minor by Frederick S. Converse (61) is performed for the first time, at New England Conservatory, Boston.
December 16, 1932:
Prophecy, a tone poem for soprano and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (61) to words from the Book of Isaiah, is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
March 15, 1933:
Concertino for pianoforte and orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (62) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
February 8, 1935:
American Sketches for orchestra by Frederick S. Converse (64) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
February 3, 1936:
String Quartet no.3 by Frederick S. Converse (65) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
February 19, 1936:
Sonata for violin and piano by Frederick S. Converse (65) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
December 3, 1936:
Symphony in F by Frederick S. Converse (65) is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre of Harvard University.
December 19, 1936:
Frederick S. Converse (65) suffers a severe stroke in Boston and is rushed to the hospital. His left side is paralyzed. He will survive, and slowly recover.
November 12, 1937:
Frederick S. Converse (66) is inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Because of his stroke last December, he is unable to attend.
November 8, 1938:
Sonata for piano by Frederick S. Converse (67) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
November 18, 1938:
Four Gregorian Etudes op.104 for brass quartet by Frederick S. Converse (67) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
January 14, 1940:
Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra op.105 by Frederick S. Converse (69) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
June 8, 1940:
Frederick Shepherd Converse dies at his home in Westwood, Massachusetts, USA, aged 69 years, five months, and three days.
June 11, 1940:
A funeral in memory of Frederick Shepherd Converse is held in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Dedham, Massachusetts. From there, his mortal remains are cremated in Forest Hills and from thence buried in Westwood Cemetery.
November 7, 1940:
Symphony no.6 by Frederick S. Converse (†0) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
November 29, 1940:
Symphony no.5 op.107 by Frederick S. Converse (†0) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.