July 5, 1926:
Kenneth Louis Gaburo is born at Somerset Hospital in Somerville, New Jersey, USA, the son of Amedio and Isabelle Gaburo, Italian immigrants. His family lives at 1 Third Street in Raritan but he is born in Somerville because Raritan does not have a hospital. The family owns a laundry, Quality Damp Wash Laundry (later Gaburo’s Laundry) in Raritan.
July 31, 1944:
Kenneth Gaburo (18) enlists in the United States Army at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
August 10, 1946:
After two years of service, Kenneth Gaburo (20) is discharged from the United States Army.
March 6, 1948:
Two Shorts and a Long for piano by Kenneth Gaburo (21) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.
May 27, 1948:
Three Interludes for string orchestra by Kenneth Gaburo (21) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, conducted by Howard Hanson (51).
December 8, 1948:
Five Postludes for piano by Kenneth Gaburo (22) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York.
April 29, 1949:
Concertante for piano and orchestra by Kenneth Gaburo (22) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, Howard Hanson (52) conducting.
May 5, 1952:
The Snow Queen, an opera by Kenneth Gaburo (25) to words of Wilson, is performed for the first time, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
March 18, 1953:
Snow and the Willow, two madrigals for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (26), are performed for the first time, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
April 22, 1953:
The Night is Still for soprano and piano by Kenneth Gaburo (26) to words of Tagore is performed for the first time, in New Orleans.
May 5, 1953:
Cantilena One for soprano by Kenneth Gaburo (26) is performed for the first time, at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana.
August 2, 1953:
Three Dedications to Lorca for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (27) is performed for the first time, at McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Lousiana.
March 7, 1954:
Four Inventions for clarinet, piano, and text by Kenneth Gaburo (27) is performed for the first time, in Dixon Hall of Tulane University, New Orleans, the composer at the keyboard.
April 5, 1954:
Music for Five Instruments for flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, and piano by Kenneth Gaburo (27) is performed for the first time, at the University of Texas, Austin.
April 19, 1955:
Ideas and Transformations no.1 for violin and viola by Kenneth Gaburo (28) is performed for the first time, in Rome.
May 2, 1956:
Ad Te Domine for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (29) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
November 7, 1956:
Ulysses Turns Homeward from the Edge of the World (Ulysses at the Edge) for clarinet, cello, and two original instruments by Harry Partch (55) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Also premiered is Blur, an opera by Kenneth Gaburo (30) for actors and tape to his own words.
March 6, 1957:
Incidental music to Schochen’s play Tiger Rag by Kenneth Gaburo (30) is performed for the first time, in Lincoln Hall Theatre of the University of Illinois.
November 10, 1957:
String Quartet in One Movement by Kenneth Gaburo (31) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois, Champaign.
December 15, 1957:
Line Studies for flute, clarinet, viola, and trombone by Kenneth Gaburo (31) is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 2, 1959:
Elegy for small orchestra by Kenneth Gaburo (32) is performed for the first time, in New York, conducted by Leonard Bernstein (40).
May 7, 1960:
Stray Birds, a cycle for voice and piano by Kenneth Gaburo (33) to words of Tagore, is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
February 26, 1961:
The Widow, an opera by Kenneth Gaburo (34) to his own words after Melville, is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
March 10, 1961:
Alas! Alack! for female chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (34) is performed for the first time, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
March 19, 1962:
TWO for mezzo-soprano, double bass, and alto flute by Kenneth Gaburo (35) to words of Hommel, is performed for the first time, at Yale University.
April 24, 1962:
Three works for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (35) are performed for the first time, in St. Louis: Ave Maria, Laetantur coeli, and Terra tremuit.
March 10, 1964:
Two works for tape by Kenneth Gaburo (37) are performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois: For Harry, dedicated to Harry Partch (62) and Fat Millie’s Lament.
January 2, 1965:
The Wasting of Lucrecetzia for tape by Kenneth Gaburo (38) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
March 31, 1965:
Incidental music to Schochen’s play The Hydrogen Jukebox by Kenneth Gaburo (38) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
July 25, 1965:
Psalm for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (39) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois.
July 31, 1966:
Scapes II, A Contest for Two Groups for two groups of instruments by Robert Erickson (49) is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois. Also premiered is Antiphony II (Variations on a Poem by Cavafy) for soprano, chorus, and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (40).
February 21, 1967:
Antiphony III (Pearl-White Moments) for chorus and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (40) to words of Hommel is performed for the first time, at Mandel Hall of the University of Chicago, the composer conducting.
March 22, 1967:
Lemon Drops for tape by Kenneth Gaburo (40) is performed for the first time, in Darmstadt.
April 15, 1967:
Never 1 for male voices by Kenneth Gaburo (40) is performed for the first time, at Colgate University.
May 1, 1967:
December 8 for male chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (40) is performed for the first time, at Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana.
October 31, 1969:
Lingua II: Maledetto for seven virtuoso speakers by Kenneth Gaburo (43) is performed for the first time, in San Diego directed by the composer.
March 3, 1970:
Lingua I: Poems and Other Theatres by Kenneth Gaburo (43) is performed for the first time, at the University of California at San Diego in La Jolla, including the following sections: Poesies for seven or more sculpted humans and tape, Dante’s Joynte for six shouting voices, overhead amber spot, film, and tape, Inside for quartet for one double bass player, Mouth-Piece for trumpet and projections, and The Flight of the Sparrow for one actor and tape.
April 17, 1970:
Lingua III: In the Can for 40 actors, slides, film, and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (43) is performed for the first time, at the University of Oregon.
March 29, 1972:
Dirige (Antiphonae) in memory: Igor Stravinsky (†0) for chorus by Kenneth Gaburo (45) is performed for the first time, at the University of Pittsburgh.
April 10, 1972:
Antiphony VI (Cogito) for string quartet, slides, and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (45) to words of Hommel is performed for the first time.
November 17, 1972:
Collaboration One by Kenneth Gaburo (46) is performed for the first time, at the University of California at San Diego.
April 4, 1974:
Show-Tellies for video by Kenneth Gaburo (47) is performed for the first time, in La Jolla, California.
May 2, 1974:
The Flow of (U) for soprano, alto, and baritone by Kenneth Gaburo (47) is performed for the first time, at the University of California at San Diego.
March 6, 1975:
New works are performed for the first time, at the opening of the Mandeville Center for the Arts at the University of California at San Diego: Crow Two-A Ceremonial Opera for specialized and non-specialized performers by Pauline Oliveros (42), and My, My What a Wonderful Fall for five dancers/acrobats, text, tape, sculpted light, and gym mat by Kenneth Gaburo (48) to his own words.
May 15, 1975:
Kyrie: Orbis Fact/or: a very odd do: synthetic composition for chorus generated by one voice in a small cave around Mandy’s villa, for tape by Kenneth Gaburo (48) is performed for the first time, at the University of California at San Diego.
March 17, 1976:
Cantilena IV for soprano and trombone by Kenneth Gaburo (49) to words by Manley Hopkins is performed for the first time, in the Centre Culturel Americain, Paris.
May 9, 1976:
Ringings for chorus, slides, tape, and film by Kenneth Gaburo (49) is performed for the first time, at Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
September 24, 1977:
Serious Music-Making in San Diego and Other Happy Memories: Vol.2: Handle With Care: Perishable Live Plants for live performers, tape, text, and slides by Kenneth Gaburo (51) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of radio station KUNM-FM in New Mexico.
June 13, 1980:
The State of California divorces Kenneth Gaburo (53) from his wife Virginia.
July 30, 1983:
Kenneth Gaburo (57) marries Mary Lou Blankenburg in San Diego.
March 10, 1984:
Antiphony VIII (Revolution) for percussion and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (57) is performed for the first time, in California.
March 10, 1985:
Few for two-track tape by Kenneth Gaburo (58) in collaboration with the poet Henri Chopin, is performed for the first time, in Coroboree Gallery of the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
October 13, 1985:
Antiphony IX (---a Dot is no mere thing---) for orchestra, children, and tape by Kenneth Gaburo (59) is performed for the first time, at the Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
January 26, 1993:
Kenneth Louis Gaburo dies of bone cancer at his home in Iowa City, Iowa, USA, aged 66 years, six months, and 21 days.