May 17, 1923:
Peter Mennini (Mennin) is born in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, the son of Attilio Mennini and Amelia Benacci, restaurant owners.
March 27, 1945:
A symphonic allegro by Peter Mennin (21) is performed for the first time, in New York conducted by Leonard Bernstein (26). See 27 November 1945.
November 27, 1945:
Symphony no.2 by Peter Mennin (22) is performed completely for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York. See 27 March 1945.
February 27, 1947:
Symphony no.3 by Peter Mennin (23) is performed for the first time, in New York.
May 13, 1947:
The New York Times reports that William Schuman (36), President of the Juilliard School of Music, is introducing a completely revamped, comprehensive approach to music theory. It also announces the appointment to the faculty of several distinguished musicians including Robert Ward (29) and Peter Mennin (23).
August 28, 1947:
Peter Mennin (24) marries Georganne Bairson, a student at the Eastman School of Music.
January 17, 1948:
Fantasia for string orchestra by Peter Mennin (24) is performed for the first time, in New York.
March 18, 1949:
Symphony no.4 “The Cycle” by Peter Mennin (25) is performed for the first time, in New York.
April 10, 1949:
The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation fellowships are announced, including ones for John Cage (36), Samuel Barber (39), Peter Mennin (25), Leon Kirchner (30), and Robert Ward (31).
December 24, 1949:
The Christmas Story for vocal soloists, chorus, brass, timpani, and strings by Peter Mennin (26) to words from the Bible is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of radio station WABC, New York.
March 28, 1950:
Five Piano Pieces by Peter Mennin (26) are performed for the first time, in New York.
April 2, 1950:
Symphony no.5 by Peter Mennin (26) is performed for the first time, in Dallas.
June 15, 1951:
Canzona for band by Peter Mennin (28) is performed for the first time, in New York.
February 24, 1952:
String Quartet no.2 by Peter Mennin (28) is performed for the first time, in New York.
October 20, 1952:
Concertato for orchestra “Moby Dick” by Peter Mennin (29) is performed for the first time, in Erie, Pennsylvania.
November 18, 1953:
Symphony no.6 by Peter Mennin (30) is performed for the first time, in Louisville.
February 10, 1956:
Two new works are performed for the first time, at the Juilliard School of Music, New York: Piano Concerto by Roger Sessions (59) and Concerto for cello and orchestra by Peter Mennin (32).
October 19, 1956:
Sonata concertante for violin and piano by Peter Mennin (33) is performed for the first time, at the Library of Congress, Washington.
February 27, 1958:
Concerto for piano and orchestra by Peter Mennin (34) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
September 19, 1958:
Today marks the first meeting in a cultural exchange between composers in the United States and the USSR. The meeting takes place in the Hall of Composers at the Moscow Composers’ Union. American visitors include Roger Sessions (61), Roy Harris (60), Ulysses Kay (41), and Peter Mennin (35).
October 15, 1958:
The high point of a cultural exchange between Soviet and American composers in Moscow takes place in a concert by the Moscow State Radio Orchestra in Tchaikovsky Hall. Works performed include Peter Mennin’s (35) Symphony no.6, the Symphony no.5 by Roy Harris (60), Roger Sessions’ (61) Suite from The Black Maskers, and Of New Horizons by Ulysses Kay (41).
October 2, 1962:
Peter Mennin (39) replaces William Schuman (52) as President of the Juilliard School, New York.
March 4, 1963:
Canto for orchestra by Peter Mennin (39) is performed for the first time, in San Antonio.
January 23, 1964:
Symphony no.7 “Variation Symphony” by Peter Mennin (40) is performed for the first time, in Cleveland.
February 9, 1965:
The National Institute of Arts and Letters (US) announces the election of Vincent Persichetti (49), Milton Babbitt (48), and Peter Mennin (41) as members.
May 2, 1969:
Cantata de Virtue for vocal soloists, narrator, children’s chorus, chorus, and orchestra by Peter Mennin (45) to words of Browning and various Latin texts is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
October 2, 1969:
The Juilliard School opens in a new facility at Lincoln Center, New York. The move was overseen by its president, Peter Mennin (46).
October 26, 1969:
A concert takes place in Alice Tully Hall marking the official opening of the Juilliard School and the completion of Lincoln Center. Attenders include the First Lady, her daughter and son-in-law, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Martha Graham, Sol Hurok, Isaac Stern, and William Schuman (59). The master of ceremonies is Leonard Bernstein (51). Speakers include John D. Rockefeller III and President of Juilliard Peter Mennin (46). A dispute between Mennin and Schuman has recently become very public culminating this morning in the appearance of a scathing letter to the editor from Schuman in the New York Times.
April 20, 1972:
Lord Byron, an opera by Virgil Thomson (75) to words of Larson, is performed for the first time, in the Juilliard Theatre, New York. After being rejected by its commissioner, the Metropolitan Opera, the director of the Juilliard School, Peter Mennin (48), offers the venue to Thomson. The director is John Houseman, who leads the school’s theatre department. Reviews are strongly mixed. See 14 April 1969.
November 21, 1974:
Symphony no.8 by Peter Mennin (51) is performed for the first time, in New York.
March 28, 1976:
Voices for mezzo-soprano, harpsichord, harp, piano, and percussion by Peter Mennin (52) to words of Dickinson, Melville, Thoreau, and Whitman, is performed for the first time, in New York.
January 18, 1979:
Reflections of Emily for treble voices, piano, harp, and percussion by Peter Mennin (55) to words of Dickinson is performed for the first time, in New York.
March 10, 1981:
Symphony no.9 “Sinfonia Capriciosa” by Peter Mennin (57) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
June 17, 1983:
Peter Mennin dies at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, USA of pancreatic cancer, aged 60 years and one month. He kept the seriousness of his disease a secret, even from family members and colleagues at the Juilliard School.
May 25, 1988:
Concerto for flute and orchestra by Peter Mennin (†4) is performed for the first time, in New York.