May 16, 1931:
Donald James Martino is born in Plainfield, New Jersey, son of James Edward Martino and Alma Ida Renz.
February 10, 1952:
Three works by Donald Martino (20) are performed for the first time, in Syracuse, New York: From the Bad Child’s Book of Beasts for voice and piano to words of Belloc, Separate Songs for voice and piano to words of Joyce and Houseman, and the Clarinet Sonata, the composer as soloist.
September 5, 1953:
Donald Martino (22) marries Mari Rice.
March 1, 1966:
Concerto for piano and orchestra by Donald Martino (34) is performed for the first time, in New Haven, Connecticut.
May 21, 1966:
B, A, B, B, IT, T for clarinet by Donald Martino (35) is performed for the first time, in New Haven, Connecticut by the composer. It is dedicated to Milton Babbitt on his 50th birthday.
June 5, 1969:
Donald Martino (38) marries Lora Harvey, his second wife.
May 15, 1973:
Notturno for chamber ensemble by Donald Martino is performed for the first time, in New York, on the eve of the composer’s 42nd birthday. It will win the Pulitzer Prize. See 7 May 1974.
December 10, 1974:
Pianississimo for piano by Donald Martino (43) is performed for the first time, at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston.
May 7, 1975:
Paradiso Choruses, an oratorio by Donald Martino (43) to words of Dante and the Latin Mass, is performed for the first time, at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston.
March 31, 1976:
Seven Pious Pieces for chorus and optional organ or piano by Donald Martino (44) to words of Herrick is performed for the first time, at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston.
December 12, 1976:
Ritorno for orchestra by Donald Martino (45) is performed for the first time, in Plainfield, New Jersey.
November 21, 1977:
Impromptu for Roger for piano by Donald Martino (46) is performed for the first time, at Princeton University.
December 18, 1978:
Triple Concerto for clarinet, bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet, and chamber orchestra by Donald Martino (47) is performed for the first time, at the Manhattan School of Music, New York.
October 16, 1979:
Concerto for cello and orchestra by Donald Martino (48) is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
March 31, 1981:
Quodlibets II for flute by Donald Martino (49) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Recital Hall, New York.
April 8, 1987:
The White Island for chorus and chamber orchestra by Donald Martino (55), to words of Herrick, is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
February 5, 1998:
Variazioni sopra una Soggeto Cavato for clarinet by Donald Martino (66) is performed for the first time, in the Tsai Center, Boston by the composer.
April 19, 1999:
Serenata Concertante by Donald Martino (67) is performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York.
August 12, 2000:
The Lion, the Tiger for chorus, flute, and two cellos from The Bad Child’s Book of Beasts by Donald Martino (69) is performed for the first time, at the Warebrook Festival, Vermont.
November 16, 2000:
Romanza for solo violin by Donald Martino (69) is performed for the first time, in John Knowles Paine Hall of Harvard University.
January 15, 2004:
Sonata for solo violin by Donald Martino (72) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
May 3, 2004:
Trio for clarinet, cello, and piano by Donald Martino (72) is performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York.
January 22, 2005:
Concertino for B flat clarinet and orchestra by Donald Martino (73) is performed for the first time, in Jordan Hall, Boston.
March 19, 2005:
Fifth Quartet for string quartet by Donald Martino (73) is performed for the first time, in Slosberg Recital Hall of Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
December 8, 2005:
Donald James Martino dies on a cruise ship off the coast of Antigua, of a heart attack following complications of diabetes, aged 74 years, six months, and 22 days.
February 5, 2006:
Two works by Donald Martino (†0) are performed for the first time, in Paine Hall of Harvard University: Violin Sonata no.2 and a Piano Trio.