October 28, 1896:
Howard Harold Hanson is born at 12th and Linden Streets in Wahoo, Nebraska, USA the second (and only surviving) child born to Hans Hanson, owner of a hardware store, and Hilma Christina Ekstrom, an amateur musician. Both parents are Swedish immigrants.
May 20, 1918:
Exaltation op.10, a song for voice and piano by Howard Hanson (21) is performed for the first time.
April 7, 1919:
Piano Sonata in a minor op.11 and Three Miniatures op.12 for piano by Howard Hanson (22) are performed for the first time, at the College of the Pacific, San Jose, California.
May 26, 1921:
Symphonic Rhapsody op.14 by Howard Hanson (24) is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles conducted by the composer.
November 1, 1921:
The American Academy jury chooses Howard Hanson (25) as the first Frederick Juilliard Fellow. He will study with Ottorino Respighi (42).
May 17, 1923:
Symphony no.1 “Nordic” by Howard Hanson (26) is performed for the first time, in Rome, conducted by the composer.
May 9, 1924:
Howard Hanson (27) telegraphs President Rush Rhees of the University of Rochester accepting the directorship of the Eastman School of Music.
May 1, 1925:
Cortège macabre for orchestra (an excerpt from Grohg) by Aaron Copland (24) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York Howard Hanson (28) conducting.
October 30, 1925:
Quartet in One Movement op.23 for string quartet by Howard Hanson (29) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington on the last day of the inaugural Festival of Chamber Music in the Coolidge Auditorium.
November 25, 1925:
Symphonic Fantasia no.1 for orchestra by Otto Luening (25) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, Howard Hanson (29) conducting.
April 23, 1926:
Andante for orchestra by Roy Harris (28) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York Howard Hanson (29) conducting.
January 6, 1927:
Concerto for organ and orchestra op.27 by Howard Hanson (30) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York directed by the composer. The work is an arrangement of Hanson’s Concerto for organ, strings, and harp op.22/3. See 29 August 1943.
February 22, 1929:
Concerto for piano and wind octet by Colin McPhee (28) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York the composer at the keyboard and Howard Hanson (32) conducting.
January 13, 1930:
Lux Aeterna for viola and string quartet op.24 by Howard Hanson (33) is performed for the first time, in New York. The premiere is on cello and piano.
November 28, 1930:
Symphony no.2 “Romantic” by Howard Hanson (34), composed for the fiftieth anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, is performed for the first time, in Boston.
May 22, 1931:
Sahdji, a ballet by William Grant Still (36) to a scenario by Locke and Bruce, is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York Howard Hanson (34) conducting.
October 29, 1931:
Afro-American Symphony by William Grant Still (36) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (35). This work secures Still’s fame for the rest of his life.
May 5, 1933:
La Guiablesse, a ballet by William Grant Still (37) to a scenario by Page, after Hearn, is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York under the baton of Howard Hanson (36).
May 20, 1933:
Merry Mount, an opera by Howard Hanson (36) to words of Stokes, is performed for the first time, in a concert setting in Ann Arbor, Michigan. See 10 February 1934.
November 16, 1933:
The Eastman School of Music, under its director Howard Hanson (37), gives the first of 30 broadcast concerts over the airwaves of the National Broadcasting Company.
February 10, 1934:
Merry Mount, an opera by Howard Hanson (37) to words of Stokes after Hawthorne is staged for the first time, at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Amy Beach (66) is in the audience and finds the music “very rich and interesting.” See 20 May 1933.
January 18, 1935:
The first concert by the University of Rochester Symphony Band takes place. It is conducted by its organizer and founder, Frederick Fennell, a sophomore at the Eastman School of Music. Eastman director Howard Hanson (38) is in the audience and asks Fennell to repeat the concert at Eastman. Eventually, Fennell will join the Eastman faculty and found the Eastman Wind Ensemble.
May 15, 1935:
Songs from “Drum Taps” op.32 for baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Howard Hanson (38) to words of Whitman is performed for the first time, in Ann Arbor, Michigan the composer conducting.
March 19, 1936:
Solemn Prelude for orchestra by Vladimir Ussachevsky (24) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (39). It is the composer’s master’s thesis.
October 30, 1936:
Dismal Swamp, a symphonic poem by William Grant Still (41), is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (40).
December 10, 1936:
Psalm for orchestra by David Diamond (21) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (40).
December 17, 1936:
Merry Mount Suite for orchestra by Howard Hanson (40) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York the composer conducting.
September 18, 1937:
The first three movements of Howard Hanson’s (40) Symphony no.3 are performed for the first time, in New York. The work was composed to celebrate 300 years of Swedish presence in North America. See 15 March 1938.
October 27, 1937:
Symphony no.3 by Bernard Rogers (44) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (40).
March 15, 1938:
Howard Hanson’s (41) Symphony no.3 is performed completely for the first time, over the airwaves of the NBC radio network under the baton of the composer. See 18 September 1937.
April 28, 1938:
Festival Fanfare for brass and percussion by Howard Hanson (41) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York the composer conducting. Hanson also conducts the premiere of Elegy in Memory of Maurice Ravel for brass, harps, and percussion by David Diamond (22).
April 17, 1940:
Concerto for oboe and orchestra by Ulysses Kay (23) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, Howard Hanson (43) conducting.
April 25, 1940:
Symphony no.4 “Folksong Symphony” for chorus and orchestra by Roy Harris (42) is performed for the first time, conducted by Howard Hanson (43) at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.
April 23, 1941:
Danse Calinda, a ballet by Ulysses Kay (24) after Torrence is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, Howard Hanson (44) conducting. See 23 May 1947.
May 2, 1941:
Miss Sally’s Party, a ballet by William Grant Still (45) to a scenario by Arvey, is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, Howard Hanson (44) conducting.
April 30, 1942:
Concerto for cello and orchestra by David Diamond (26) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (45).
April 2, 1943:
The 17th of 18 patriotic fanfares for brass and percussion commissioned by Eugene Goossens and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Fanfare for the Signal Corps by Howard Hanson (46), is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
August 29, 1943:
Concerto for organ, strings, and harp op.22/3 by Howard Hanson (46) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the CBS radio network.
December 3, 1943:
Symphony no.4 “Requiem” by Howard Hanson (47) is performed for the first time, in Boston under the baton of the composer. See 1 May 1944.
April 27, 1944:
Symphony no.1 by Elliott Carter (35) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (47).
May 1, 1944:
Howard Hanson (47) wins the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his Symphony no.4. See 3 December 1943.
October 18, 1944:
Dance Overture op.20 for orchestra by Vincent Persichetti (32) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (47).
March 23, 1945:
Variations on a Theme by Goosens is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati. The theme is followed by variations from Paul Creston, Aaron Copland (44), Deems Taylor, Howard Hanson (48), William Schuman (34), Walter Piston (51), Roy Harris (47), Bernard Rogers (52), Ernst Bloch (64) and Eugene Goosens.
October 24, 1945:
Serenade Concertante for orchestra by Arthur Berger (33) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (48).
October 25, 1945:
Serenade for flute, harp and strings op.35 by Howard Hanson (48) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
July 24, 1946:
Howard Hanson (49) marries Margaret Elizabeth Nelson at her parents’ summer home on Lake Chautauqua near the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. She is the daughter of the Vice-President and Treasurer of Gulf Oil Co.
October 25, 1946:
Celebration Variations on a Timpani Theme from Howard Hanson’s Third Symphony for orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
October 21, 1947:
Symphony no.1 op.18 by Vincent Persichetti (32) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (50).
May 4, 1948:
Symphony no.4 by Bernard Rogers (55) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York conducted by Howard Hanson (51).
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 31, 1948:
Howard Hanson’s (52) Piano Concerto is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston the composer conducting. On the same program is the premiere of Lukas Foss’ (26) Recordare for orchestra. This work is dedicated to Mohandas K. Gandhi and was begun on the day of his death.
April 1, 1949:
Symphony of Freedom for orchestra by Howard Hanson (52) is performed for the first time, in Memorial Hall, Cleveland directed by the composer.
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.
October 3, 1949:
Pastorale for oboe, harp, and strings op.38 by Howard Hanson (52) is performed for the first time, in Paris in a reduction for oboe and piano. See 20 October 1950.
May 11, 1950:
The Cherubic Hymn op.37 for chorus and orchestra by Howard Hanson (53) to the Greek Catholic Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York.
June 10, 1950:
Centennial Ode for baritone, speaker, chorus, and orchestra by Howard Hanson (53) is performed for the first time, at the University of Rochester conducted by the composer.
October 20, 1950:
Pastorale for oboe, strings, and harp op.38 by Howard Hanson (53) is performed for the first time in its original setting, in Philadelphia. See 3 October 1949.
May 2, 1951:
Symphony in E by Ulysses Kay (34) is performed for the first time, in Rochester, New York, conducted by Howard Hanson (54).
February 26, 1954:
Chorale and Alleluia for concert band by Howard Hanson (57) is performed for the first time, in West Point, New York.
February 18, 1955:
Symphony no.5 “Sinfonia sacra” by Howard Hanson (58) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia.
January 20, 1956:
Elegy op.44 for orchestra by Howard Hanson (59) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
April 9, 1957:
Song of Democracy for chorus and orchestra by Howard Hanson (60) to words of Whitman, is performed for the first time, in Washington, the composer conducting.
April 29, 1957:
Ode to the West Wind, a concerto for soprano and orchestra by Dominick Argento (29) to words of Shelley, is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, conducted by Howard Hanson (60).
January 23, 1958:
Mosaics by Howard Hanson (61), commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Cleveland Orchestra, is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
October 23, 1960:
The Howard Hanson Inter-Faith Chapel is dedicated at the University of Rochester to celebrate Hanson’s (63) 35th anniversary as director of the Eastman School of Music. As part of the festivities, Creator of Infinities Beyond Our Earth for chorus by Howard Hanson to words of Hansen is performed for the first time.
April 24, 1961:
Overture for orchestra by Charles T. Griffes (†41) is performed for the first time, in Kilbourn Hall, Rochester New York conducted by Howard Hanson (64) 56 years after it was composed.
April 27, 1961:
Two new works by American composers are performed for the first time, at Howard University in Washington under the baton of Howard Hanson (64): Symphony no.14 by Henry Cowell (64) and Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun for bass and orchestra by Roy Harris (63) to words of Whitman.
November 13, 1961:
Pablo Casals gives a recital at the White House before President and Mrs. Kennedy and 200 invited guests. Among those attending are the elite of the musical culture of the United States: Walter Piston (67), Howard Hanson (65), Virgil Thomson (64), Roger Sessions (64), Henry Cowell (64), Roy Harris (63), Aaron Copland (60), Elliott Carter (52), Samuel Barber (51), William Schuman (51), Alan Hovhaness (50), Gian Carlo Menotti (50), Norman Dello Joio (48), Leonard Bernstein (43), Eugene Ormandy, and Leopold Stokowski. The concert is recorded and will be televised. Bernstein will recall “I’ve never seen so many happy artists in my life.”
January 25, 1962:
Bold Island Suite by Howard Hanson (65) is performed for the first time, in Severence Hall, Cleveland.
May 2, 1962:
News of the upcoming retirement of Howard Hanson (65) as director of the Eastman School of Music is released to the public.
May 16, 1963:
For the First Time for orchestra by Howard Hanson (66) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York directed by the composer.
December 10, 1963:
Song of Human Rights for chorus and orchestra by Howard Hanson (67) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
June 4, 1964:
Howard Hanson (67) addresses the faculty of the Eastman School of Music, one of his last acts as director.
October 31, 1964:
Four new chamber works are performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge: Amaryllis Variations for string trio by William Schuman (54), String Septet by Darius Milhaud (72), Four Psalms by Howard Hanson (68), and String Sextet by Walter Piston (70).
April 7, 1966:
Summer Seascape II for viola and string quartet by Howard Hanson (69) is performed for the first time, in the Library of Congress, Washington. See 20 April 1966.
April 20, 1966:
Summer Seascape II for viola and strings by Howard Hanson (69) is performed for the first time, in North Carolina. See 7 April 1966.
January 6, 1967:
Centennial March for concert band by Howard Hanson (70) “dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Admission to the Union of my native state, Nebraska”, is performed for the first time, at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio.
February 29, 1968:
Symphony no.6 by Howard Hanson (71) is performed for the first time, in New York, under the baton of the composer.
May 18, 1969:
Streams in the Desert for chorus and orchestra by Howard Hanson (72) to words from the Bible is performed for the first time, at Texas Technology College, Lubbock, Texas the composer conducting.
April 22, 1970:
The Mystic Trumpeter for chorus, narrator, and orchestra by Howard Hanson (73) to words of Whitman is performed for the first time, at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
April 7, 1972:
Dies natalis (II) for concert band by Howard Hanson (75) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York.
November 17, 1972:
The Young Peoples Guide to the Six-tone Scale for concert band and piano by Howard Hanson (76) is performed for the first time, in Eastman Theatre, Rochester, New York.
October 15, 1974:
Lumen in Christo for chorus and orchestra by Howard Hanson (77) is performed for the first time, at Nazareth College of Rochester, New York.
February 7, 1975:
Laude for concert band by Howard Hanson (78) is performed for the first time, in San Francisco.
May 24, 1975:
An honorary doctorate is conferred on William Grant Still (80) by the University of Southern California. At a banquet, Howard Hanson (78) gives the keynote address.
February 20, 1976:
Fanfare and Chorale for orchestra by Howard Hanson (79) is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
May 1, 1976:
New Land, New Covenant for soprano, baritone, narrator, chorus, children’s chorus, and organ by Howard Hanson (79) to words of Watts, Eliot, Newton, the Bible, and Jefferson is performed for the first time, in Bryn Mawr Church, Pennsylvania.
August 7, 1977:
Two works by Howard Hanson (80) are performed for the first time, in National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan conducted by the composer: Symphony no.7 for chorus and orchestra to words of Whitman, and Rhythmic Variations on Two Ancient Hymn Tunes for strings.
August 9, 1979:
Nymph and Satyr, a ballet by Howard Hanson (82), is performed for the first time, in Chautauqua, Tennessee.
December 7, 1979:
Howard Hanson (83) is elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
February 26, 1981:
Howard Harold Hanson dies after a short illness at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York, aged 84 years, three months, and 29 days. His mortal remains will be cremated and the ashes scattered.