December 23, 1906:
Ross Lee Finney is born in Wells, Minnesota, USA, the youngest of three children born to Ross L. Finney, a minister, and Caroline Mitchell, who has a degree in music.
September 3, 1930:
Ross Lee Finney (23) marries Carol Gretchen Ludke, amateur violinist and daughter of a groceries wholesaler, at her home on Douglas Street in Alexandria, Minnesota.
May 21, 1933:
Piano Sonata in d minor by Ross Lee Finney (26) is performed for the first time, in Sage Hall, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts.
July 14, 1935:
Violin Sonata no.1 by Ross Lee Finney (28) is performed for the first time, in Cummington, Massachusetts.
June 11, 1936:
Man and the Masses, a dance-drama for solo voices, chorus, two pianos, and percussion by Ross Lee Finney (29), is performed for the first time, at the Smith College graduation exercises in Northampton, Massachusetts.
March 28, 1937:
The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowships are announced, including one for Ross Lee Finney (30).
March 1, 1939:
Piano Trio no.1 by Ross Lee Finney (32) is performed for the first time, in the Chamber Music Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York.
June 8, 1939:
Fantasy for piano by Ross Lee Finney (32) is performed for the first time, at the New York World’s Fair.
August 31, 1939:
A second concert by the Federal Music Project featuring Guggenheim recipients includes the music of Ross Lee Finney (32), William Schuman (29), and Paul Creston.
February 6, 1940:
Barbershop Ballad for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (33) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the Columbia Broadcasting System originating in New York.
April 4, 1941:
Slow Piece for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (34) is performed for the first time, in Minneapolis.
October 28, 1941:
Overture for a Drama for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (34) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York.
November 2, 1941:
String Quartet no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (34) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
November 17, 1941:
Serenade for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (34) is performed for the first time, at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
January 1, 1942:
Cello Sonata no.1 by Ross Lee Finney (35) is performed for the first time, in Pratt Memorial Music Hall, Mount Holyoke College, Northampton, Massachusetts.
March 15, 1942:
Concertino for piano and strings by Ross Lee Finney (35) is performed for the first time, at Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota.
February 3, 1943:
Pole Star for this Year for alto, tenor, chorus, and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (36) to words of MacLeish is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the Mutual Broadcasting System originating in New York.
November 13, 1944:
Piano Sonata no.3 by Ross Lee Finney (37) is performed for the first time, in Times Hall, New York.
May 5, 1945:
Ross Lee Finney (38), a member of the OSS, arrives in Paris by plane from Marseille.
September 30, 1945:
Ross Lee Finney (38) receives a Certificate of Merit from the Office of Strategic Services for his work during the war.
June 2, 1946:
Pilgrim Psalms for soloists, chorus, organ, or orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (39) to words from the Ainsworth Psalter is performed for the first time, in Ithaca, New York.
November 14, 1946:
Piano Sonata no.4 by Ross Lee Finney (39) is performed for the first time, in Times Recital Hall, New York.
May 17, 1947:
Variations, fugueing, and rondo for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (40) is performed for the first time, in New York.
December 31, 1947:
String Quartet no.4 by Ross Lee Finney (41) is performed for the first time, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
June 28, 1949:
String Quartet no.5 by Ross Lee Finney (42) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
December 12, 1950:
Second Sonata in C for cello and piano by Ross Lee Finney (43) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
May 24, 1951:
Concerto for violin and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (44) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
August 7, 1951:
String Quartet no.6 by Ross Lee Finney (44) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
November 25, 1952:
Immortal autumn for tenor and chorus by Ross Lee Finney (45) to words of MacLeish is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh. Also premiered is Ave Verum Corpus for female chorus by Francis Poulenc (53).
July 21, 1953:
Piano Quintet by Ross Lee Finney (46) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
September 1, 1954:
Sonata for viola and piano no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (47) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
February 18, 1955:
Piano Trio no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (48) is performed for the first time, in Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress, Washington.
October 30, 1957:
Chromatic Fantasy for cello by Ross Lee Finney (50) is performed for the first time, in the Corcoran Gallery, Washington.
June 1, 1958:
Fantasy in two movements for violin by Ross Lee Finney (51) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
November 9, 1958:
The third of the Five Fantasies for organ by Ross Lee Finney (51) is performed for the first time, in Hill Auditorium of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
July 23, 1959:
Symphony no.1 “Communique” by Ross Lee Finney (52) is performed for the first time, in Interlochen, Michigan.
October 30, 1959:
String Quintet by Ross Lee Finney (52) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
November 13, 1959:
Symphony no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (52) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
April 22, 1960:
Edge of Shadow for chorus, percussion, and two pianos by Ross Lee Finney (53) is performed for the first time, at Grinnell College, Iowa.
April 30, 1961:
String Quartet no.8 by Ross Lee Finney (54) is performed for the first time, at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
January 5, 1962:
Piano Quintet no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (55) is performed for the first time, at UCLA.
October 20, 1962:
A stranger to myself for baritone, male chorus, two trombones, and timpani by Ross Lee Finney (55) to words of Camus is performed for the first time, at Colgate University.
May 10, 1963:
Still Are New Worlds for narrator, tape, choir, and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (56) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
May 29, 1963:
Three Pieces for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (56) is performed for the first time, in McMillin Theatre of Columbia University.
March 6, 1964:
Symphony no.3 by Ross Lee Finney (57) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
September 19, 1964:
Fanfare for band by Ross Lee Finney (57) is performed for the first time, at the dedication of the new School of Music at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
October 18, 1964:
Divertissement for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano by Ross Lee Finney (57) is performed for the first time, at Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine.
November 15, 1964:
Divertimento for wind quintet by Ross Lee Finney (57) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
June 21, 1965:
Three Studies in Fours for percussion by Ross Lee Finney (58) is performed for the first time, in Poznan.
August 21, 1965:
Nun’s Priest’s Tale after Chaucer for folk singer, electric guitar, and small orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (58) is performed for the first time, at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
December 30, 1965:
Variations for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (59) is performed for the first time, in Minneapolis.
January 17, 1966:
Hymn, fuguing and holiday by Ross Lee Finney (59) is performed for the first time, in Miami.
November 17, 1966:
Concerto for percussion and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (59) is performed for the first time, at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota.
April 23, 1967:
The Martyr’s Elegy for taped narration, tenor, alto, chorus, and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (60) to words of Shelley is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
October 1, 1967:
Symphony no.7 by Roger Sessions (70) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Present is Luigi Dallapiccola (63), there to receive an honorary degree. The two are hosted by Ross Lee Finney (60).
October 29, 1967:
The first of the Five Fantasies for organ by Ross Lee Finney (60) is performed for the first time, in the First Unitarian Church, San Francisco.
February 27, 1968:
Symphonie concertante for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (61) is performed for the first time, in Kansas City, Missouri.
November 25, 1969:
32 Piano Games by Ross Lee Finney (62) is performed for the first time, in Columbia, Missouri.
April 23, 1970:
The remorseless rush of time for amplified voice, chorus, and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (63) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Wisconsin State University, River Falls.
November 14, 1970:
2 Acts for 3 Players for piano, clarinet, and percussion by Ross Lee Finney (63) is performed for the first time, at the University of Iowa, Ames.
April 1, 1971:
Apotheosis of this Earth for band by Karel Husa (49) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor conducted by the composer. Also premiered is Summer in Valley City for band by Ross Lee Finney (64). See 12 April 1973.
March 26, 1972:
Spaces for orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (65) is performed for the first time, in Fargo, North Dakota.
November 1, 1972:
Concerto for piano and orchestra no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (65) is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
November 5, 1972:
Landscapes remembered for chamber orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (65) is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
May 9, 1973:
Symphony no.4 by Ross Lee Finney (66) is performed for the first time, in Baltimore.
March 31, 1974:
Two ballades for flutes and piano by Ross Lee Finney (67) are performed for the first time, in Dumbarton Oaks, Washington.
January 19, 1975:
Tubes I for 1-5 trombones by Ross Lee Finney (68) is performed for the first time, at Towson State College, Maryland.
April 16, 1975:
Concerto for alto saxophone, winds, harp, celesta, and percussion by Ross Lee Finney (68) is performed for the first time, at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
October 19, 1975:
Variations on a memory for chamber orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (68) is performed for the first time, at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
March 31, 1976:
Violin Concerto no.2 by Ross Lee Finney (69) is performed for the first time, in Dallas.
March 5, 1977:
The first movement of the Narrative in Two Movements for cello and 14 instruments by Ross Lee Finney (70) is performed for the first time, in Urbana, Illinois. See 27 September 1987.
December 5, 1977:
Concerto for strings by Ross Lee Finney (70) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
May 20, 1978:
Skating on the Sheyenne for band by Ross Lee Finney (71) is performed for the first time, in Brooklyn, New York.
February 16, 1979:
Medley (Campfire on the ice) for piano by Ross Lee Finney (72) is performed for the first time, in Heeren Hall of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.
December 11, 1979:
Earthrise for taped narration, alto, tenor, chorus, and orchestra by Ross Lee Finney (72) to words of Thomas and Teilhard de Chardin, is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
March 9, 1980:
Quartet for oboe, cello, percussion, and piano by Ross Lee Finney (73) is performed for the first time, in Brooklandville, Maryland.
March 10, 1981:
Two Studies for saxophones and piano by Ross Lee Finney (74) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
September 14, 1981:
Ross Lee Finney’s (74) dance score Heyoka is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
February 18, 1982:
The electroacoustic version of Eclipse for voices and electronic sound generators by Roger Reynolds (47) to words of various authors is performed for the first time, in Symphony Space, New York in a concert to honor Ross Lee Finney (75). See 31 January 1980.
February 9, 1983:
The Joshua Tree, a dance score by Ross Lee Finney (76), is performed for the first time, in the Joyce Theatre, New York.
April 24, 1984:
Narrative in retrospect for piano by Ross Lee Finney (77) is performed for the first time, in Brasilia.
September 10, 1984:
Hexachord for harpsichord by Ross Lee Finney (77) is performed for the first time, at the Hartt School of Music, Hartford, Connecticut.
March 12, 1985:
Lost whale calf for piano by Ross Lee Finney (78) is performed for the first time, at the Hartt School of Music, Hartford, Connecticut.
September 4, 1986:
Illuminations for brass by Leon Kirchner (67) is performed for the first time, at Harvard University. Also premiered is Ahab, a ballet by Ross Lee Finney (79).
September 27, 1987:
Galliard for chamber orchestra by Charles Wuorinen (49) is performed for the first time, at Cleveland State University, Cleveland. Also given its first complete performance is the Narrative in Two Movements for cello and 14 instruments by Ross Lee Finney (80).
January 23, 1988:
Small Town Music for band by Ross Lee Finney (81) is performed for the first time, in Grand Ledge, Michigan.
February 27, 1989:
Chamber music for voice and piano by Ross Lee Finney (82) to words of Joyce is performed for the first time, at Rice University, Houston.
October 10, 1989:
Narrative in argument for piano by Ross Lee Finney (82) is performed for the first time, at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti.
December 9, 1990:
Divertimento for oboe, percussion, and piano by Ross Lee Finney (83) is performed for the first time, at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
February 4, 1997:
Ross Lee Finney dies in Carmel, California, USA, aged 90 years, one month, and twelve days.