March 8, 1911:
Alan Vaness Chakmakjian is born at 37 Endicott Avenue in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA to Haroutiun Chakmakjian, a chemistry professor, and Madeline Scott.
May 23, 1925:
Daniel, an opera by Alan Hovhaness (14), is performed for the first time, at Junior High West, Arlington Heights, Massachusetts, where the composer is a student.
March 8, 1929:
Lotus Blossom, an opera by Alan Hovhaness to words of Hegh, is performed for the first time, at Arlington High School in Massachusetts, where the composer and librettist are students. It is his 18th birthday.
June 17, 1945:
Lou Harrison (28) and John Cage (32) attend a concert in Town Hall, New York of compositions by Alan Hovhaness (34). They are both surprised at the music, how beautiful it is with so few materials, drones and a melody. After the performance, Harrison meets Hovhaness and writes a review for the New York Herald Tribune. Hovhaness will recall, “Lou gave me the first good review I ever had.”
March 6, 1949:
Sosi for violin, piano, percussion, and strings by Alan Hovhaness (37) is performed for the first time, in New York.
October 14, 1956:
Symphony no.3 by Alan Hovhaness (45) is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 13, 1957:
To the God Who is in the Fire, a cantata by Alan Hovhaness (46), is performed for the first time, at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
December 15, 1959:
Blue Flame, an opera by Alan Hovhaness (48), is performed for the first time, in San Antonio.
February 1, 1960:
Arjuna, a symphonic poem by Alan Hovhaness (48), is performed for the first time, in Madras.
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.”
May 22, 1962:
Wind Drum, a dance with chorus and small orchestra by Alan Hovhaness (51), is performed for the first time, at the University of Hawaii.
July 1, 1962:
Alan Hovhaness (51) arrives in Japan on a Rockefeller Grant to study the music and instruments of Gagaku.
February 15, 1963:
Spirit of the Avalanche, a chamber opera by Alan Hovhaness (51) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Tokyo.
March 28, 1963:
Symphony no.15 “Silver Pilgrimage” by Alan Hovhaness (52) is performed for the first time, in New York.
October 23, 1963:
Symphony for Metal Orchestra (Symphony no.17) by Alan Hovhaness (52) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
August 23, 1964:
The Burning House, a chamber opera by Alan Hovhaness (53) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Union College in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
October 5, 1964:
Meditation on Zeami, a symphonic poem by Alan Hovhaness (53), is performed for the first time, in New York.
January 30, 1965:
Ukiyo (Floating World), a ballad for orchestra by Alan Hovhaness (53), is performed for the first time, Salt Lake City.
April 16, 1966:
The Travellers, a chamber opera by Alan Hovhaness (55) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Foothills College in Palo Alto, California.
June 26, 1966:
Pilate, a chamber opera by Alan Hovhaness (55) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Pepperdine College, Los Angeles.
October 3, 1966:
Ode to the Temple of Sound by Alan Hovhaness (55) is performed for the first time, at the dedication concert of the new Jesse H. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston.
March 21, 1968:
Fra Angelico, a symphonic poem by Alan Hovhaness (57), is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
May 14, 1968:
The Leper King, a music-drama by Alan Hovhaness (57) to his own words, is performed for the first time, at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
October 24, 1975:
Symphony no.26 by Alan Hovhaness (66) is performed for the first time, in San Jose, California.
July 3, 1976:
A violin concerto entitled Ode to Freedom by Alan Hovhaness (65) is performed for the first time, at Wolf Trap Farm Park near Washington.
June 9, 1978:
Symphony no.35 for Korean instruments and orchestra by Alan Hovhaness (67) is performed for the first time, in Seoul.
January 16, 1979:
Concerto for contrabassoon and orchestra by Gunther Schuller (53) is performed for the first time, at the Kennedy Center in Washington. On the same program is the premiere of the Symphony no.36 for flute and orchestra by Alan Hovhaness (67).
May 2, 1981:
Symphony no.46 “to the Green Mountains” by Alan Hovhaness (70) is performed for the first time, in Vermont.
November 24, 1981:
Symphony no.47 “Walla Walla, Land of Many Waters” by Alan Hovhaness (70) is performed for the first time, in Walla Walla, Washington.
June 21, 1982:
Summer Fanfare (Echoes of Forgotten Rites) for orchestra by John Corigliano (44) is performed for the first time, in Miami. Also premiered is the Symphony no.48 “Vision of Andromeda” by Alan Hovhaness (71).
January 28, 1985:
Symphony no.59 by Alan Hovhaness (73) is performed for the first time, in Bellevue, Washington.
November 10, 1985:
Symphony no.58 “Symphony Sacra” by Alan Hovhaness (74) is performed for the first time, in Valparaiso, Indiana.
April 24, 1986:
Symphony no.60 “To the Appalachian Mountains” by Alan Hovhaness (75) is performed for the first time, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
October 4, 1986:
Symphony no.61 by Alan Hovhaness (75) is performed for the first time, in Boise, Idaho.
October 6, 1991:
As part of an all-Hovhaness concert at Carnegie Hall celebrating the 80th birthday of Alan Hovhaness (80), his Symphony no.65 “Artstakh” is performed for the first time.
June 21, 2000:
Alan Hovhaness (Chakmakjian) dies of a stomach ailment in Seattle, aged 89 years, three months, and 13 days.