March 30, 1935:
John Charles Eaton is born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA, the son of Harold C. Eaton and Fannie E. Geer.
June 16, 1965:
Songs forRPB for soprano, piano, and Synket by John C. Eaton (30) is performed for the first time, in Rome.
August 9, 1967:
Concert Piece for synket and orchestra by John C. Eaton (32) is performed for the first time, at Tanglewood, Lenox, Massachusetts. The synket is an electronic instrument invented by Paul Ketoff.
September 15, 1969:
John C. Eaton (34) joins the faculty of Indiana University.
October 31, 1970:
Ancient Voices of Children for soprano, treble, oboe, mandolin, harp, electric piano, and percussion by George Crumb (41) to words of Garcia Lorca is performed for the first time, in the Library of Congress, Washington. The work receives a standing, cheering ovation from the listeners assembled. Also on the program is the premiere of the String Quartet no.4 of Milton Babbitt (54), Changes for tape and electronics by Charles Dodge (28), Mass for soprano, clarinet, and electronics by John C. Eaton (35), and Sappho for mezzo-soprano, harp, piano, guitar, and percussion by R. Murray Schafer (36).
April 15, 1972:
Heracles, a grand opera by John C. Eaton (37) to words of Fried after Sophocles and Seneca, is performed for the first time, in Bloomington, Indiana.
April 23, 1973:
Myshkin, a television opera by John C. Eaton (38) to words of Creagh after Dostoyevsky, is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the Public Broadcasting Service.
May 31, 1973:
John C. Eaton (38) marries Nelda Estela Nelson, a singer and a student, in Beck Chapel on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington.
May 1, 1974:
The Lion and Androcles, a children’s opera by John C. Eaton (39) to words of Walter and Anderson after Silvius, is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
April 21, 1978:
Danton and Robespierre, a grand opera by John C. Eaton (43) to words of Creagh, is performed for the first time, in Bloomington, Indiana.
March 1, 1980:
The Cry of Clytaemnestra, an opera by John C. Eaton (44) to words of Creagh after Aeschylus, is performed for the first time, in Bloomington, Indiana.
July 27, 1985:
The Tempest, an opera by John C. Eaton (50) to words of Porter after Shakespeare, is performed for the first time, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
April 21, 1989:
El divino narciso, a dramatic cantata by John C. Eaton (54) to words of Nelson after Juana, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
May 29, 1992:
A Packet for Emile and Bill, a cycle for voice and clarinet by John C. Eaton (57) to words of Snyder, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
June 2, 1992:
Peer Gynt, a theatre piece by John C. Eaton (57) to his own words after Ibsen, is performed for the first time, in New York.
December 8, 1993:
Let’s Get This Show on the Road: an Alternative View of “Genesis”, an opera by John C. Eaton (58) to words of Walter, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
May 9, 1994:
Songs of Desperation and Comfort for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra by John C. Eaton (59) to words of Donne, Creagh, Shakespeare, and Cobier, is performed for the first time.
April 21, 1995:
Lettere for mezzo-soprano, flute, harp, and string quartet by John C. Eaton (60) to words of Ranchetti, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
August 6, 1995:
Ad Luciam Beatricem for mezzo-soprano and clarinet by John C. Eaton (60) to words of Florentinus is performed for the first time, at the American Academy in Rome.
June 6, 1996:
Two theatre pieces by John C. Eaton (61) are performed for the first time, in Chicago: Don Quixote, to his own words after Cervantes, and Golk to words of Stern.
May 30, 1997:
Travelling with Gulliver, a theatre piece by John C. Eaton (62) to his own words after Swift, is performed for the first time, in Boston.
March 8, 1998:
Two works by John C. Eaton (62) to words of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz are performed for the first time, at La Decima Musa in Chicago: Sor Juana’s Songs for voice and piano, the composer at the keyboard, and Tocotin for voice and guitar.
October 23, 1999:
El Sueño for voice, guitar, piano, and electronics by John C. Eaton (64) to words of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
December 14, 2000:
Youth for five voices, six players, and electronics by John C. Eaton (65) to words of Estela Eaton, is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
May 21, 2002:
Inasmuch… for six singers, six players, and electronics by John C. Eaton (67) to words of Estela Eaton after Walter, is performed for the first time, at Symphony Space, New York.
June 1, 2002:
Dirge Without Music for mezzo-soprano and piano by John C. Eaton (67) to words of Edna St. Vincent Millay is performed for the first time, at Trinity Episcopal Church of Princeton University, the composer at the keyboard.
March 22, 2003:
Vespers for six voices, seven players, and electronics by John C. Eaton (67) is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 12, 2003:
Footnotes for two bass clarinets by John C. Eaton (68) is performed for the first time, in New York.
June 24, 2003:
Salomes Flea Circus for clarinet and piano by John C. Eaton (68) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Space, New York.
May 18, 2004:
Pinocchio for ten players by John C. Eaton (69) is performed for the first time, at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, New York.
June 15, 2010:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a stage work for five solo voices, piano, violin, cello, and conductor by John C. Eaton (75), to words of Estela Eaton after Fitzgerald, is performed for the first time, in Symphony Space, New York.
January 24, 2015:
The End of It for soprano, flute, clarinet, percussion, harp, piano, and strings by John C. Eaton (79), to words of Donne, Swenson, Borsch, and Dante, is performed for the first time, at Logan Center for the Arts, Chicago.
December 1, 2015:
While walking to a performance of his music at St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan, John C. Eaton (80) falls and suffers a head injury.
December 2, 2015:
John Charles Eaton dies from complications of a brain hemorrhage, in New York, New York, USA, aged 80 years, eight months, and two days.