September 26, 1868:
Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert is born at 15 Monroe Street in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, the son of Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, a bank clerk, composer, church organist, and a singer, and Therese Angeline Gilson, a professional singer and artist.
January 13, 1896:
“Legend”, the first of Two Episodes op.2 for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (27), is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston. It is the first public performance of an orchestral work by Gilbert. See 3 December 1896.
December 3, 1896:
Two Episodes op.2 for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (27) is performed completely for the first time, in Chickering Hall, New York. See 13 January 1896.
May 13, 1901:
Henry F. Gilbert (32) arrives in Paris on his second trip to Europe. During his two-week stay he will witness Louise by Gustave Charpentier (40). It has a profound effect on him. “There in the top gallery of the Opéra Comique in Paris I vowed to devote the rest of my life to musical composition come what may.”
June 3, 1903:
Incidental music to Yeats’ play A Pot of Broth by Henry F. Gilbert (34) is performed for the first time, in the Carnegie Lyceum, New York. Also heard for the first time is Gilbert’s Oceanic Air.
December 13, 1904:
A musical prologue to Synge’s play Riders to the Sea by Henry F. Gilbert (36) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston. See 22 August 1914.
April 20, 1905:
Arthur Farwell (32) meets with Henry Gilbert (36) and other interested people in Boston to form the American Music Society to promote the music of living American composers.
March 10, 1906:
Salammbô’s Invocation to Tänith, a song for voice and orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (37) to words after Flaubert, is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
June 4, 1906:
Henry F. Gilbert (37) marries Helen Kalischer.
August 17, 1910:
Comedy Overture on Negro Themes by Henry F. Gilbert (41) is performed for the first time, in Central Park, New York.
May 24, 1911:
The symphonic movement Americanesque by Henry Gilbert (42) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston. It is sometimes titled Humoresque on Negro Minstrel Tunes. The critics are generally positive about the music while noting the particularly bad performance.
June 13, 1911:
American Dances for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (42) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
June 5, 1913:
Henry F. Gilbert’s (44) Negro Rhapsody “Shout” is performed for the first time, in Norfolk, Connecticut, conducted by the composer.
August 22, 1914:
Riders to the Sea: Symphonic Prologue for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (45) is performed for the first time, in Peterborough, New Hampshire, conducted by the composer. This is a revision of a prologue written for Synge’s play. See 13 December 1904.
January 25, 1915:
To Thee! America for chorus and orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (46) to words of Manly is performed for the first time, in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
March 23, 1918:
The ballet pantomime The Dance in Place Congo by Henry F. Gilbert (49) is performed for the first time, in the Metropolitan Opera House, New York.
March 4, 1921:
Indian Sketches, for orchestra by Henry Gilbert (52), is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston. The critics like it.
July 13, 1921:
Suite from Pilgrim Tercentenary Project for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (52) is performed for the first time, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Reviews are good.
September 25, 1922:
Down to the Sea in Ships, a film with music by Henry F. Gilbert, is shown for the first time, in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
February 26, 1926:
Symphonic Piece for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (57) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston. Reviews are mixed.
March 16, 1928:
Nocturne for orchestra by Henry F. Gilbert (59) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia. Reviews range from mixed to very positive.
April 28, 1928:
Henry Cowell’s (31) Sinfonietta (originally Marked Passages) for chamber orchestra, is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston. Also premiered is Henry F. Gilbert’s (59) Suite for chamber orchestra.
May 19, 1928:
03:42 Henry Franklin Belknap Gilbert dies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA of a cerebral hemorrhage, aged 59 years, seven months, and 23 days.
September 14, 1988:
Hurricane Gilbert (Category five) hits the Yucatán Peninsula causing widespread damage and a small number of deaths.