November 23, 1876:
06:00 Manuel María de los Dolores Clemente Ramón del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús de Falla y Matheu is born at No.3 Plaza de Mina in Cádiz, Kingdom of Spain, first of five children born to José María de Falla Franco, an export merchant, and María Jesús Matheu Zabala, daughter of an industrialist. Both parents come from wealthy families.
June 26, 1886:
Manuel de Falla (9) receives First Communion in Cádiz.
July 14, 1899:
Romanza para violonchelo y piano by Manuel de Falla (22) is performed for the first time, privately, at the home of the cellist Salvador Viniegra in Cádiz.
August 16, 1899:
Several works by Manuel de Falla (22) are performed for the first time, in Salón Quirell, Cádiz, the composer at the keyboard: Nocturno for piano, Melodía for cello and piano, Cuarteto en sol for piano quartet, and Serenata andaluza for violin and piano. It is the first public performance of any of Falla’s music.
September 10, 1899:
Mireya for violin, viola, cello, flute, and piano by Manuel de Falla (22) is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Comico, Cádiz, the composer at the keyboard.
May 6, 1900:
Vals-capricho for piano by Manuel de Falla (23) is performed for the first time, by the composer to an invited audience in the Madrid Ateneo.
September 22, 1901:
Segunda serenata andaluza and Suite Fantástica for piano by Manuel de Falla (24) are performed for the first time, in Teatro del Parque Genovés, Cádiz by the composer.
April 12, 1902:
Los amores de la Inés, a zarzuela by Manuel de Falla (25) to words of Dugi, is performed for the first time, at the Teatro Cómico, Madrid. It is moderately successful.
April 24, 1905:
Manuel de Falla (28) wins the Ortiz y Cussó prize in piano performance in a competition at the Madrid Conservatory of Music. The prize consists of a grand piano.
May 15, 1905:
Allegro de concierto for piano by Manuel de Falla (28) is performed for the first time, in the Madrid Ateneo by the composer. It was entered in a composition competition sponsored by the Madrid Conservatory of Music. The competition was won by Enrique Granados (37). Falla received honorable mention.
November 13, 1905:
Manuel de Falla’s (28) lyrica drama La Vida breve wins the prize of the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.
September 29, 1907:
Manuel de Falla (30) meets the pianist Ricardo Viñes in Paris. Through Viñes he will make the acquaintance of many young composers and performers in the city.
October 3, 1907:
Paul Dukas (42) introduces Manuel de Falla (30) to Isaac Albéniz (42) in Paris.
June 30, 1908:
Manuel de Falla (31) plays his Cuatro piezas españolas for Claude Debussy (55) in Paris. See 27 March 1909.
March 27, 1909:
New compositions are performed for the first time, by the Société National de Musique in Salle Erard, Paris: Quintet for piano and strings op.51 by Florent Schmitt (38), and Four piano pieces by Manuel de Falla (32), Aragonesa, Cubana, Montañesa, and Andaluza. These are known collectively as Cuatro piezas españolas.
March 14, 1910:
Séguidille, one of the Trois mélodies for voice and piano by Manuel de Falla (33) to words of Gautier, is performed for the first time, at the Schola Cantorum, Paris, the composer at the keyboard. See 4 May 1910.
May 4, 1910:
Trois Mélodies for voice and piano by Manuel de Falla (33) to words of Gautier are performed completely for the first time, in Salle Gaveau, Paris, the composer at the keyboard. See 14 March 1910.
April 1, 1913:
The lyric drama La Vida breve by Manuel de Falla (36), to words of Fernández Shaw, is performed for the first time, at the Casino Municipal, Nice.
August 9, 1914:
Manuel de Falla (37) writes to his close friend, the lawyer Leopoldo Matos, in Madrid. He has to leave Paris because of the war and needs to find work back home, “something that will enable me and my family to live.”
November 8, 1914:
Manuel de Falla (37) returns triumphantly from seven years in Paris to take up residence in Madrid.
November 30, 1914:
Soleá for voice and guitar by Manuel de Falla (37) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Lara, Madrid, as part of Martínez Sierra’s play La pasión.
January 14, 1915:
The Seven Popular Spanish Songs of Manuel de Falla (38) are performed for the first time, in Teatro Ateneo, Madrid the composer at the piano.
February 8, 1915:
Oración de las Madres que Tienen a Sus Hijos en Brazos, for solo voice and piano by Manuel de Falla (38) to words of Martínez Sierra, is performed for the first time, in the Hotel Ritz, Madrid, the composer at the piano. It is part of the first concert of the Sociedad Nacional de Música, formed to promote Spanish music. The work is the first of Falla’s public antiwar statements.
April 7, 1915:
Incidental music to Martínez Sierra’s play Amanecer by Manuel de Falla (38) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Lara, Madrid.
April 15, 1915:
El amor brujo, a ballet by Manuel de Falla (38) to a story by Martínez Sierra, is performed for the first time, at the Teatro Lara, Madrid. It receives a mixed response. See 28 March 1916.
March 28, 1916:
A concert version of Manuel de Falla’s (39) ballet El Amor brujo is performed for the first time, at the Sociedad Nacional de Musica, Madrid. See 15 April 1915.
April 9, 1916:
Noches en los jardines de España, a symphonic suite for piano and orchestra by Manuel de Falla (39), is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Real, Madrid.
April 7, 1917:
El corregidor y la molinera, a pantomime by Manuel de Falla (40) to words of Martínez Sierra after Alarçón, is performed for the first time, in the Teatro Eslava, Madrid conducted by Joaquín Turina (34). It is wildly popular. See 22 July 1919.
June 17, 1919:
A concert version of El sombrero de tres picos, a ballet by Manuel de Falla (42) to a scenario by Martínez Sierra after Alarcón, is performed for the first time, at the Teatro Eslava, Madrid. This ballet is a reworking of El corregidor y la molinera. See 22 July 1919.
July 22, 1919:
El sombrero de tres picos, a ballet by Manuel de Falla (42) to a scenario by Martínez Sierra after Alarcón, is staged for the first time, at the Alhambra Theatre, London. This ballet is a reworking of El corregidor y la molinera. During the day, Falla is informed that his mother is near death and he departs London immediately, missing the premiere. She dies today, before he can reach her home. The ballet, however, is a smashing success. See 17 June 1919.
October 16, 1919:
Brief incidental music for Martínez Sierra’s play El corazón ciego by Manuel de Falla (43) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Eslava, Madrid.
February 8, 1920:
Fantasía baetica for piano by Manuel de Falla (43) is performed for the first time, in New York.
June 9, 1920:
Pablo Picasso completes his drawing of Manuel de Falla (43) in Paris.
January 24, 1921:
Three new works are performed for the first time, in the Salle des agriculteurs, Paris: Homenaje for guitar by Manuel de Falla (44) and L’accueil des muses for piano by Albert Roussel (51), both in honor of Claude Debussy (†2), and Premier menuet for piano by Erik Satie (54). The Falla piece is played on harp-lute. See 8 March 1921.
March 8, 1921:
Homenaje by Manuel de Falla (44) is performed for the first time in its original guitar setting, in the Teatro de la Comedia, Madrid. See 24 January 1921.
October 22, 1921:
Fanfare pour une fête for two trumpets and percussion by Manuel de Falla (44) is performed for the first time, in London.
November 28, 1921:
Manuel de Falla (45) dedicates a newly published score of El Amor Brujo “To the Poet of the Andalusias, Federico García Lorca, from his true friend, Manuel de Falla.”
December 2, 1922:
Pour le Tombeau de Claude Debussy for guitar by Manuel de Falla (45) is performed for the first time, at the Paris Conservatoire.
January 6, 1923:
Two puppet plays by Federico García Lorca with incidental music by Manuel de Falla (46) are performed for the first time, at the home of the poet in Granada, for his twelve-year-old sister Isabel: La niña que riega la albahaca y el príncipe preguntón, and Misterio de los reyes magos.
March 23, 1923:
El retablo de maese Pedro, a puppet opera by Manuel de Falla (46) to his own words after Cervantes, is performed for the first time, in a concert setting at the Teatro San Fernando, Seville. See 25 June 1923 and 24 October 1924.
June 25, 1923:
El retablo de maese Pedro, a puppet opera by Manuel de Falla (46) to his own words after Cervantes, is staged for the first time, privately, at the home of Princesse Edmond de Polignac, Paris. Present is Falla’s friend, Igor Stravinsky (41) as well as Francis Poulenc (24), Darius Milhaud (30), Pablo Picasso, and Paul Valéry. The audience calls for an encore but the musicians refuse to perform it since the Princesse did not invite them to the dinner before the concert. See 23 March 1923 and 24 October 1924.
February 21, 1924:
Manuel de Falla (47) is elected a permanent member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Granada.
June 11, 1924:
Dos Preludios for chamber orchestra by Manuel de Falla (47) are performed for the first time, in Teatro Llorens, Seville.
October 25, 1924:
El retablo de maese Pedro, a puppet opera by Manuel de Falla (47) to his own words, after Cervantes, is publicly staged for the first time.
February 9, 1925:
Psyché for mezzo-soprano, flute, harp, violin, viola, and cello by Manuel de Falla (48) to words of Jean-Aubry is performed for the first time, in Barcelona, the composer conducting.
May 22, 1925:
A revised version of El Amor brujo, a ballet for mezzo-soprano and orchestra by Manuel de Falla (48) to words of Martínez Sierra, is performed for the first time, in the Trianon Lyrique, Paris.
November 5, 1926:
Concerto for harpsichord, flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, and cello by Manuel de Falla (49) is performed for the first time, in Palau de Música Catalana, Barcelona, the composer conducting. The critics find it a step back artistically for the composer.
December 14, 1926:
Noches en los jardines de España, symphonic impressions for piano and orchestra by Manuel de Falla (50), is performed for the first time, in Teatro San Fernando, Seville. This is a revision of his 1916 suite of the same name. The City of Seville names him an honorary citizen.
December 17, 1926:
Today begins two days of celebration honoring Manuel de Falla (50) in his natal city of Cádiz. He is named the city’s “favorite son.”
February 28, 1927:
In Guadix, in Granada, Manuel de Falla (50) is named the city’s “adopted son.”
May 14, 1927:
Sonneto a Córdoba for voice and harp by Manuel de Falla (50) to words of Luis de Góngora is performed for the first time, in the Salle Pleyel, Paris. It commemorates the 300th anniversary of the death of the poet.
June 2, 1927:
Maurice Ravel (52) and Manuel de Falla (50) are at the same dinner party given by Henri Prunières in Paris. They probably meet here for the first time.
June 27, 1927:
Incidental music to Calderón de la Barca’s play El gran teatro del mundo by Manuel de Falla (50) is performed for the first time, at the University of Granada.
March 14, 1928:
Manuel de Falla (51) is invested with the Legion of Honor in the Hotel de la Fondation S. de Rothschild in Paris. Three works by Joaquín Rodrigo (26) are performed for the first time at the occasion, the composer at the piano: Preludio al gallo mañanero and Zarabanda lejana, both for piano, and Cantiga “Muy graciosa es la doncella” for voice and piano to words of Vicente.
October 29, 1928:
Manuel de Falla (51) is made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy.
May 13, 1929:
Manuel de Falla (52) is admitted to the Orden de Alfonso XII.
May 14, 1931:
Manuel de Falla (54) and other supporters of the republic in Granada send a telegraph to Prime Minister Niceto Alcalá Zamora expressing deep concern over the recent convent burnings.
June 8, 1932:
The newspaper La Unión publishes a letter from Manuel de Falla (55). The city council of Seville announced that it intended to pay homage to the composer. Due to the anti-clerical nature of the new republic, Falla rejects this homage “if God is now officially denied all recognition.” (Moreda-Rodríguez, 213)
February 28, 1933:
Manuel de Falla (56) arrives in Majorca, fleeing the social unrest in Spain.
April 15, 1933:
The first issue of Cruz y Raya is published in Spain to present a more moderate and intellectual Catholic view of contemporary Spain. One of the board members is Manuel de Falla (56).
May 21, 1933:
Balada de Mallorca for chorus by Manuel de Falla (56) to words of Verdaguer, is performed for the first time, at the Monastery of Valldemosa, Majorca.
November 19, 1933:
For the first time ever, Manuel de Falla (56) votes, in elections in Granada.
March 28, 1934:
Fanfare sobre el nombre de E.F. Arbós for trumpet, trombone, and percussion by Manuel de Falla (57) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Calderón, Madrid.
January 10, 1935:
Manuel de Falla (58) is made a member of the Belgian Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres, et des Beaux-Arts.
January 26, 1935:
On the nomination of Paul Dukas (69), Manuel de Falla (58) is elected a member of the French Institute’s Académie des Beaux-Arts. He fills the place formerly held by Edward Elgar (†0).
February 16, 1935:
Manuel de Falla (58) ends his association with the periodical Cruz y Raya after it prints an opinion that Roman Catholicism and Communism are two very similar ideas.
June 9, 1935:
Incidental music to Lope de Vega’s play La vuelta de Egipto by Manuel de Falla (58) is performed for the first time, in Granada.
April 28, 1936:
Pour le Tombeau de Paul Dukas for piano by Manuel de Falla (59) is performed for the first time, in the Salle de l’École Normale de Musique, Paris.
July 8, 1936:
In a letter to Ramiro Maeztu, who tried to gain Manuel de Falla’s (59) support in opposing the leftist tendencies of the Spanish government, Falla says, “The only solution for this is not a conservative counterrevolution...but rather another deeper and more noble revolution, guided by the love of God, above all things, and of our neighbor, as you would have him love you...What does not conform to this represents nationalist traditionalism which will finish, like any exaggerated nationalism, by opposing Christ’s true teachings.”
July 23, 1936:
Spanish Civil War: Fascists complete their takeover of Granada. Anyone suspected of Republican leanings is killed. Thousands die in the slaughter. Manuel de Falla (59) can hear the firing squads from his house.
August 19, 1936:
Escorted by two fascists, Manuel de Falla (59) goes to the government offices in Granada to plead for the release of Federico García Lorca. He learns that Lorca was shot this morning.
August 22, 1936:
A month after the beginning of the Civil War, and three days after the murder of his friend, Federico García Lorca, Manuel de Falla (59) is diagnosed with “grave malnutrition.”
January 1, 1938:
Unbeknownst to him, Manuel de Falla (61) is named President of the Spanish Institute in Salamanca by the Nationalist government. He will resign the position.
May 25, 1938:
Manuel de Falla (61) writes to a friend in Argentina for help in escaping Spain for South America.
October 4, 1938:
Manuel de Falla (61) writes Pedro Sáinz Rodrigo, the Minister of Education for the rebel government of Spain, asking him to find a job for Joaquín Rodrigo (36). He will.
October 31, 1938:
Joaquín Rodrigo (36) writes from Paris to Manuel de Falla (61), thanking him for finding a job for him. Rodrigo is underwhelmed by what he is being offered.
September 28, 1939:
Manuel de Falla (62) leaves his home in Granada, travelling to Barcelona.
October 2, 1939:
Manuel de Falla (62) and his sister board the SS Neptunia in Barcelona heading for Buenos Aires. He will never again see Spain.
October 18, 1939:
Manuel de Falla (62) arrives in Buenos Aires to direct a series of concerts of his works.
November 18, 1939:
Homenajes, for orchestra by Manuel de Falla (62) is performed completely for the first time, in the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires the composer conducting.
May 30, 1940:
Manuel de Falla (63) conducts a concert of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Córdoba (Argentina) to benefit flood victims in Buenos Aires.
July 13, 1940:
Manuel de Falla (63) is invested with the Gran Cruz de la Orden Civil de Alfonso X el Sabio, in Argentina.
November 14, 1946:
Manuel María de los Dolores Clemente Ramón del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús de Falla y Matheu is found dead in his house, “Los Espinillos” in Alta Gracia, Republic of Argentina, 640 km northwest of Buenos Aires, the apparent victim of a heart attack. He was aged 69 years, eleven months, and 22 days.
November 19, 1946:
A funeral in memory of Manuel de Falla takes place in the Cathedral of Córdoba, Argentina.
December 22, 1946:
The mortal remains of Manuel de Falla (†0) are placed aboard ship in Argentina to be returned to Spain.
January 9, 1947:
Almost two months after his death in Argentina, the earthly remains of Manuel de Falla are interred in the crypt of the Cathedral of Cádiz amidst a large funeral attended by ministers of state and Spain’s musical elite. Pope Pius XII calls Falla a “favorite son of the Church” and allows the burial in the cathedral.
May 13, 1952:
The Manuel de Falla(†5) chair in the History of Music in the University of Madrid is created. The professorship is first held by Joaquín Rodrigo (50) until 1978.
November 24, 1961:
Excerpts of Atlántida, a scenic cantata by Manuel de Falla (†15) to his own words, after Verdaguer, completed by Halffter, are performed for the first time, in a concert setting, in Teatre Liceu, Barcelona. See 18 June 1962.
May 12, 1962:
Invocatión y danza (Homenaje a Manuel de Falla) for guitar by Joaquín Rodrigo (60) is performed for the first time, in Château de la Brède, France. Also premiered is Rodrigo’s La grotte for voice and piano to words of Emié.
June 18, 1962:
Atlántida, a scenic cantata by Manuel de Falla (†15) to his own words, after Verdaguer, and completed by Halffter, is staged completely for the first time, at Teatro alla Scala, Milan. See 24 October 1961.
July 1, 1976:
The first and third acts of Manuel de Falla’s (†29) unperformed comic opera Fuego fatuo, orchestrated by Ros-Marbá, are performed for the first time, in Granada.
January 13, 1989:
Mazurca en do menor for piano by Manuel de Falla (†42) is performed for the first time, in Madrid 90 years after it was composed. Also premiered is Falla’s Serenata for piano composed in 1901.
September 18, 1992:
Cantares de Nochebuena, a cycle for voice, guitar, zambomba, and rebec by Manuel de Falla (†45), is performed for the first time, in Trinity College Chapel, Melbourne about 88 years after it was composed.