A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY IN THE CONTEXT OF WORLD EVENTS

Gordon Mumma

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March 30, 1935: Gordon Mumma is born in Framingham, Massachusetts, USA, the son of Colgan Thomas Mumma and Adamae McCoy.
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August 7, 1960: Robert Ashley (30), Gordon Mumma (25), Roger Reynolds (26), and George Cacioppo, having driven from Ann Arbor, Michigan, attend a week-long composers’ conference organized by the Canadian League of Composers in Stratford, Ontario. Among the luminaries present are Luciano Berio (34), Edgar Varèse (76), Roy Harris (62), Ernst Krenek (59), and George Rochberg (42). The four decide that they could organize a better conference and by the time they arrive home, they have planned the ONCE Festival.
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August 1, 1966: Mesa for cybersonic bandoneon by Gordon Mumma (31) and David Tudor is performed for the first time, in St. Paul de Vence, France by the creators.
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May 1, 1967: Diastasis, As in Beer for two cybersonic guitars by Gordon Mumma (32) is performed for the first time, at Harvard University by the composer and Christian Wolff (33).
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May 4, 1967: Electric Spring 3 for violin, horn, electric guitar, and electric bass by Christian Wolff (33) is performed for the first time, by David Behrman, Gordon Mumma (32), John Nash, and the composer.
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March 5, 1968: Reunion by John Cage (55) is performed for the first time, in Toronto. The work consists of Marcel Duchamp and the composer playing chess. The position and movement of the chess pieces determines sounds operated by David Tudor, Gordon Mumma (32), Lowell Cross, and David Behrman.
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April 21, 1968: Rainforest, a musical event by Gordon Mumma (33), David Tudor, and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, is created by the Public Broadcast Laboratory Television Production in New York.
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February 1, 1970: Conspiracy Eight for computer and eight manipulators by Gordon Mumma (34) is performed for the first time, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.
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June 5, 1970: First Week of June by John Cage (57), David Tudor, and Gordon Mumma (34) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
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November 19, 1970: Communication in a Noisy Environment by Gordon Mumma (35) is performed for the first time, in the Automation House, New York.
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February 1, 1972: 52/3 for piano and electronics by John Cage (59), David Tudor, and Gordon Mumma (36) is performed for the first time, in Brooklyn to a dance by Merce Cunningham.
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September 29, 1974: From today through 2 October, the Exercises 1-14 for two or more players by Christian Wolff (40) are performed completely for the first time, in Berlin.  Among the performers are Cornelius Cardew (38), Gordon Mumma (39), Frederic Rzewski (36), and the composer.  There is also the first complete performance of Wolff's Songs.  See 9 March 1974 and 26 May 1974.
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June 17, 1988: Orait for dancers and vocal ensemble by Gordon Mumma (53) is performed for the first time, in Santa Cruz, California.
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March 18, 2004: Yawawot for violin and electroacoustic sounds by Gordon Mumma (69) is performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York.
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November 18, 2006: From the Rendition Series for piano with internal electronics by Gordon Mumma (71) is performed for the first time, in Den Bosch, the Netherlands.
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November 19, 2007: Gambreled Tapestry for piano and possible electronic resonances by Gordon Mumma (72) is performed for the first time, by the composer in the Cunningham Dance Studio, New York.
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March 14, 2008: Tapizdos for piano four hands by Gordon Mumma (72) is performed for the first time, in La Casa Encendida, Madrid.