August 7, 1921:
Karel Husa is born in Prague, Czechoslovakia the first of two children born to Karel Husa, Sr. and Bozena Dongresová-Husová.
November 18, 1939:
The Nazis close all the technical schools in Czechoslovakia. This forces Karel Husa (18), who is contemplating an engineering career, to seek another line of work.
January 20, 1945:
Overture for orchestra by Karel Husa (23) is performed for the first time, in Prague, conducted by the composer.
April 20, 1945:
Sonatina for piano by Karel Husa (23) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
September 27, 1945:
Sonatina for violin and piano by Karel Husa (24) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
November 26, 1946:
Suite for viola and piano by Karel Husa (25) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
April 25, 1947:
Sinfonietta for orchestra by Karel Husa (25) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
May 23, 1948:
String Quartet no.1 by Karel Husa (26) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
April 27, 1949:
Three fresques for orchestra by Karel Husa (27) is performed for the first time, in Prague.
October 30, 1949:
Divertimento for strings by Karel Husa (28) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
April 19, 1950:
Sonata no.1 for piano by Karel Husa (28) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
February 2, 1952:
Karel Husa (30) marries Simone Perault, a nurse.
May 4, 1952:
Evocations de Slovaquie for clarinet, viola, and cello by Karel Husa (30) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
June 6, 1952:
Concertino for piano and orchestra by Karel Husa (30) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
October 10, 1953:
Concerto for piano, winds, and strings by Karl Amadeus Hartmann (48) is performed for the first time, in Donaueschingen. Also premiered is Portrait for strings by Karel Husa (32).
March 4, 1954:
Symphony no.1 by Karel Husa (32) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
September 24, 1954:
Karel Husa (33) departs France to take up a position teaching at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
September 28, 1954:
Karel Husa (33) arrives in Ithaca, New York to take up a position as music theory teacher at Cornell University. He is able to speak German, French, some Italian but little English.
October 23, 1954:
String Quartet no.2 by Karel Husa (33) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
April 28, 1956:
Eight Czech Duets for piano by Karel Husa (34) is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
March 17, 1957:
Four little pieces for strings by Karel Husa (35) are performed for the first time, at Fürsteneck Castle, West Germany.
April 28, 1957:
Fantasies for orchestra by Karel Husa (35) is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, conducted by the composer.
February 17, 1960:
Divertimento for brass ensemble and percussion by Karel Husa (38) is performed for the first time, in Ithaca, New York.
June 12, 1960:
Poème for viola and chamber orchestra by Karel Husa (38) is performed for the first time, in Cologne. It is Husa’s first systematic use of serial techniques.
July 29, 1960:
Two works are performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York: Élégie et rondeau for alto saxophone and piano by Karel Husa (38) and Concerto for two alto saxophones by Paul Hindemith (64) 27 years after it was composed. See 6 May 1962.
November 7, 1961:
Mosaïques for orchestra by Karel Husa (40) is performed for the first time, in Hamburg, conducted by the composer.
May 6, 1962:
Élégie et rondeau for alto saxophone and orchestra by Karel Husa (40) is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York conducted by the composer. See 29 July 1960.
January 7, 1964:
Serenade for woodwind quintet, strings, harp, and xylophone by Karel Husa (42) is performed for the first time, in Baltimore.
October 9, 1964:
Festive Ode for chorus and orchestra by Karel Husa (43), to words of Blackall, is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
April 22, 1966:
Preludes for flute, clarinet, and bassoon by Karel Husa (44) is performed for the first time, at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.
November 15, 1967:
Élégie for piano by Karel Husa (46) is performed for the first time, at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.
March 17, 1968:
Concerto for alto saxophone and band by Karel Husa (46) is performed for the first time, in Ithaca, New York, conducted by the composer.
October 14, 1968:
String Quartet no.3 by Karel Husa (47) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
January 31, 1969:
Music for Prague 1968 for band by Karel Husa (47) is performed for the first time, in Washington. It will become his most popular work. See 31 January 1970.
January 31, 1970:
The orchestra version of Music for Prague 1968 by Karel Husa (48) is performed for the first time, in Munich, conducted by the composer. See 31 January 1969.
February 15, 1970:
Concerto for brass quintet and strings by Karel Husa (48) is performed for the first time, in Buffalo conducted by Lukas Foss (47).
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.
February 7, 1972:
Concerto for percussion and winds by Karel Husa (50) is performed for the first time, at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
April 28, 1972:
Two Sonnets from Michelangelo for orchestra by Karel Husa (50) is performed for the first time, in Evanston, Illinois.
April 12, 1973:
Apotheosis of this earth for chorus and orchestra by Karel Husa (57), to his own words, is performed for the first time, at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. See 1 April 1971.
August 9, 1973:
Concerto for trumpet and winds by Karel Husa (52) is performed for the first time, at the University of Connecticut, Storrs.
March 31, 1974:
Sonata for violin and piano by Karel Husa (52) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
April 19, 1975:
Al fresco for band by Karel Husa (53) is performed for the first time, at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.
May 10, 1975:
The Steadfast Tin Soldier, a ballet by Karel Husa (53) to a story by Hans Christian Andersen, is performed for the first time, in Boulder, Colorado the composer conducting.
October 4, 1975:
Piano Sonata no.2 by Karel Husa (54) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
March 26, 1976:
Monodrama: Portrait of an Artist, a ballet by Karel Husa (54) based on the thoughts of James Baldwin, is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
December 5, 1976:
American Te Deum for vocal soloist, chorus,and winds by Karel Husa (55), to words of various sources, is performed for the first time, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, conducted by the composer. See 9 May 1978.
October 17, 1977:
Landscapes for brass quintet by Karel Husa (56) is performed for the first time, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
May 8, 1978:
Carlos Chávez (78) appears as conductor for the last time, at the Interamerican Music Festival in the Kennedy Center, Washington where his Concerto for trombone and orchestra is performed for the first time. Also premiered is American Te Deum for vocal soloist, chorus, and orchestra by Karel Husa (56), conducted by the composer. See 5 December 1976.
April 12, 1980:
Three Dance Sketches for percussion quartet, and Pastoral for string orchestra by Karel Husa (58) are performed for the first time, in Miami Beach, Florida.
June 21, 1980:
Intradas and Interludes for seven trumpets and percussion by Karel Husa (58) is performed for the first time, at Ohio State University in Columbus.
March 7, 1981:
Fanfare for brass ensemble and percussion by Karel Husa (59) is performed for the first time, in Portland, Oregon.
March 14, 1981:
Three Moravian songs for chorus by Karel Husa (59) to folk texts are performed for the first time, in Holland, Michigan.
March 28, 1981:
The Trojan Women, a ballet by Karel Husa (59), is performed for the first time, in Louisville, Kentucky conducted by the composer. See 28 October 1988.
November 14, 1981:
Every Day for chorus by Karel Husa (60) to words of Thoreau is performed for the first time, at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.
March 23, 1982:
Sonata à tre for clarinet, violin, and piano by Karel Husa (60) is performed for the first time, in Hong Kong.
October 28, 1982:
Recollections for woodwind quintet and piano by Karel Husa (61) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
December 3, 1982:
Concerto for winds by Karel Husa (61) is performed for the first time, at Michigan State University, East Lansing.
April 20, 1983:
Cantata for chorus and brass quintet by Karel Husa (61), to words of Robinson, Dickinson, and Whitman, is performed for the first time, in the Wabash College Chapel, Crawfordsville, Indiana.
July 16, 1983:
Symphony no.2 “Reflections” by Karel Husa (61) is performed for the first time, in Greensboro, North Carolina directed by the composer.
April 3, 1984:
Smetana fanfare for band by Karel Husa (62) is performed for the first time, in San Diego, California, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Bedrich Smetana.
May 20, 1984:
On Light Wings for piano quartet by Gunther Schuller (58) is performed for the first time, in Atlanta. Also premiered is Variations for piano quartet by Karel Husa (62).
October 1, 1984:
Symphonic Suite for orchestra by Karel Husa (63) is performed for the first time, in Athens, Georgia conducted by the composer to celebrate the bicentennial of the University of Georgia.
November 15, 1984:
Intrada for brass quintet by Karel Husa (63) is performed for the first time, in Baltimore.
September 25, 1986:
Concerto for orchestra by Karel Husa (65) is performed for the first time, in New York.
October 28, 1987:
Concerto for organ and orchestra by Karel Husa (66) is performed for the first time, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, conducted by the composer. It was commissioned by Case Western Reserve University to commemorate the centennial of the Michelson-Morley experiment. Edward Morley was an accomplished amateur organist. See 12 July 1887.
November 6, 1987:
Frammenti for organ by Karel Husa (66) is performed for the first time, at Northwestern University. The piece is made up of fragments from Husa’s Concerto for organ. See 28 October 1987.
February 11, 1988:
Concerto for trumpet and orchestra by Karel Husa (66) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
October 28, 1988:
A suite from the ballet The Trojan Women by Karel Husa (67) is performed for the first time, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, conducted by the composer. See 28 March 1981.
March 2, 1989:
Concerto for cello and orchestra by Karel Husa (67) is performed for the first time, in Los Angeles.
March 13, 1990:
Karel Husa’s (68) Music for Prague 1968 is performed in Smetana Hall in Prague. It is the first time that the work has been heard in the composer’s native land.
October 12, 1991:
Poems for string quartet by Karel Husa (70) is performed for the first time, in Brno.
November 24, 1991:
Youth, an overture for orchestra by Karel Husa (70), is performed for the first time, at the Seattle Opera House.
April 4, 1992:
Cayuga Lake (Memories) for chamber orchestra by Karel Husa (70) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York. The work celebrates the centennial of Ithaca College and marks Husa’s retirement from the faculty.
May 27, 1993:
Concerto for violin and orchestra by Karel Husa (71) is performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York.
February 10, 1995:
Five Poems for woodwind quintet by Karel Husa (73) is performed for the first time, in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, New York.
October 28, 1995:
Karel Husa (74) is awarded the State Medal of Merit by President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic.
December 21, 1996:
Midwest Celebration Fanfare for three brass choirs and percussion by Karel Husa (75) is performed for the first time, in Chicago.
May 17, 1997:
Celebración for orchestra by Karel Husa (75) is performed for the first time, in La Coruña, Spain.
May 12, 2000:
Masaryk University in Brno awards an honorary doctorate to Karel Husa (78).
September 28, 2000:
Karel Husa (79) donates his entire library to the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, New York.
July 2, 2003:
Eight Bohemian Sketches for flute, clarinet, and piano by Karel Husa (81) is performed for the first time, at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.
March 8, 2007:
Cheetah for band by Karel Husa (85) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
April 24, 2010:
Four Bohemian Sketches for oboe and piano by Karel Husa (88) is performed for the first time, at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan.
July 13, 2012:
Little Scherzo for piano by Karel Husa (90) is performed for the first time, in Mainz.