January 9, 1839:
John Knowles Paine is born in a house on Oxford Street in Portland, Maine, USA, the second of five children born to Jacob Small Paine, a craftsman of umbrellas and musical instruments, also a music publisher and distributor of sheet music and pianos, and Rebecca Beebe Downes.
June 24, 1856:
The music store owned by Jacob Small Paine (father of John Knowles Paine (17)) in Portland, Maine, is destroyed by fire.
September 26, 1856:
Three months after the destruction of his shop by fire, Jacob Small Paine dies in Portland, Maine at the age of 46. The family will now have to be supported by his son, John Knowles Paine (17).
June 1, 1857:
John Knowles Paine (18) performs professionally for the first time, accompanying the violinist Carl Gartner in a concert in Lancaster Hall, Portland, Maine. Advertisements for the performance, which includes several other musicians, do not mention Paine’s name.
June 25, 1857:
John Knowles Paine (18) makes his first public appearance as organist, in Portland, Maine.
August 6, 1857:
The Haydn Society of Portland, Maine, votes to hire John Knowles Paine (18) as organist.
December 25, 1857:
John Knowles Paine (18) is involved in his first concert with the Haydn Association of Portland, Maine. It is a performance of Messiah by George Frideric Handel (†98) and Paine plays the entire orchestral score at the organ.
January 28, 1858:
John Knowles Paine (19) gives the first of three concerts in Deering Hall, Portland, Maine. They are to raise money for his musical education in Europe.
July 7, 1858:
John Knowles Paine (19) sails from New York aboard the Athena making for London.
August 5, 1858:
John Knowles Paine (19) reaches London aboard the Athena from New York.
August 23, 1858:
John Knowles Paine (19) reaches Bremerhaven from London.
April 19, 1861:
John Knowles Paine (22) gives his third concert in Berlin, just before leaving the city for London. He has been in Berlin since August 1858.
June 18, 1861:
John Knowles Paine (22) arrives home in Portland aboard the Jura from Liverpool via Quebec, after almost three years in Germany.
November 1, 1861:
John Knowles Paine (22) gives his first organ recital after arriving in Boston, at the Tremont Temple.
November 24, 1861:
John Knowles Paine (22) enters upon duties at West Church in Boston.
March 17, 1862:
The faculty of Harvard University vote to hire John Knowles Paine (23) as organist and music instructor.
October 25, 1862:
Reverie suggested by Longfellow’s “Song of the Silent Land” for organ by John Knowles Paine (23) is performed for the first time, by the composer in West Church, Boston.
March 4, 1863:
Domine salvum fac for chorus and orchestra by John Knowles Paine (24) is performed for the first time, at the inaugural ceremonies of Thomas Hill as President of Harvard University in First Parish Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
November 2, 1863:
A grand concert to inaugurate the new organ at Boston’s Music Hall includes a performance by John Knowles Paine (24).
November 22, 1863:
Fantasia Sonata in d minor for organ by John Knowles Paine (24) is performed for the first time, by the composer in the Music Hall, Boston.
January 17, 1864:
A Caprice for organ by John Knowles Paine (25) is performed for the first time, by the composer in the Boston Music Hall.
March 2, 1864:
A Prelude for organ op.19 no.1 by John Knowles Paine (25) is performed for the first time, by the composer, in the Boston Music Hall.
March 5, 1864:
Fantasia on the “Portuguese Hymn” by John Knowles Paine (25) is performed for the first time, by the composer in the Boston Music Hall.
April 1, 1864:
After two and a half years, John Knowles Paine (25) resigns his position at West Church in Boston, for Harvard University.
July 30, 1864:
A Prelude for organ op.19 no.2 by John Knowles Paine (25) is performed for the first time, by the composer at the Boston Music Hall.
July 21, 1865:
James Russell Lowell reads his Ode Recited at the Harvard Commemoration in honor of those fallen in the war. John Knowles Paine’s (26) Mass in D op.10 is performed for the first time, directed by the composer.
July 18, 1866:
After playing the organ at the Harvard University commencement in the morning, John Knowles Paine (27) boards the steamer Cuba making for Liverpool.
July 26, 1866:
John Knowles Paine (27) arrives in Liverpool from Boston and goes immediately to London.
February 16, 1867:
A Mass in D for vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, and organ by John Knowles Paine (28) is performed at the Singakademie Hall in Berlin, conducted by the composer, before a full house including members of the royal family. None of the Berlin choral groups would perform the work so Paine organized a chorus and rehearsed the work himself. Critics are fairly positive. See 21 July 1865.
March 14, 1867:
John Knowles Paine (28) arrives in Boston from Europe. His eight months in Germany have been a triumph.
March 30, 1867:
John Knowles Paine (28) participates in the Inaugural Concert of the New England Conservatory of Music. He will soon join the faculty.
September 7, 1869:
John Knowles Paine (30) marries Mary Elizabeth Greeley, daughter of William E. Greeley, a Cambridge merchant, and Myra A. Smith Greeley, in Cambridge.
December 3, 1870:
John Knowles Paine (31) gives the first of 18 public lectures on the history of music at Wesleyan Association Hall, under the auspices of Harvard University.
October 28, 1872:
John Knowles Paine (33) gives the inaugural lecture at the College of Music of Boston University.
June 2, 1873:
By a vote of the President and Fellows of Harvard University, John Knowles Paine (34) is appointed Assistant Professor of Music. He is the first to hold such a position in the United States.
June 3, 1873:
St. Peter, an oratorio by John Knowles Paine (34), is performed for the first time, in Portland, Maine.
December 18, 1874:
The Piano Trio op.22 by John Knowles Paine (35) is performed for the first time, at the home of John Fiske in Cambridge, Massachusetts. See 18 February 1882.
August 30, 1875:
The President and Fellows of Harvard University appoint John Knowles Paine (36) Professor of Music. It is the first music professorship at an American college.
January 26, 1876:
The Symphony no.1 in c minor op.23 by John Knowles Paine (37) is performed for the first time, at Music Hall, Boston. It is a great success, with each movement applauded by the audience which includes George Whitefield Chadwick (21).
May 10, 1876:
Grosser Festmarsch WWV 110 for winds and percussion by Richard Wagner (62), commissioned for the opening ceremonies of the Centennial Exposition of the American Declaration of Independence, is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia. Also premiered is the Centennial Hymn op.27 for chorus by John Knowles Paine (37).
May 11, 1876:
Sonata for piano and violin op.24 by John Knowles Paine (37) is performed for the first time, in Mechanics’ Hall, Boston. The composer is acknowledged with spirited applause.
November 3, 1876:
Romanza and Scherzo for piano and cello op.30 by John Knowles Paine (37) is performed for the first time, in Wesleyan Hall, Boston.
November 10, 1876:
Four Characteristic Pieces op.25 for piano by John Knowles Paine (37) are performed for the first time, by the composer in Wesleyan Hall, Boston.
November 21, 1876:
Overture to Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” by John Knowles Paine (37) is performed for the first time, at the new Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.
January 17, 1877:
Matin Song op.29/1 by John Knowles Paine (38) to words of Taylor is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University. It will become his most popular song.
February 9, 1877:
Larghetto and Scherzo for piano, violin, and cello op.32 by John Knowles Paine (38) is performed for the first time, in Wesleyan Hall, Boston.
May 8, 1877:
In the Country: Sketches for piano op.26, a piano cycle by John Knowles Paine (38), is performed completely for the first time, at Lyceum Hall, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
November 2, 1877:
Symphonic Fantasy-Shakespeare’s Tempest op.31 by John Knowles Paine (38) is performed for the first time, in Steinway Hall, New York.
April 23, 1878:
Duo concertante for violin and violoncello op.33 by John Knowles Paine (39) is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University. This was to be the premiere of the composer’s Spring Symphony, but when this is not ready, the Duo concertante is substituted. The audience applauds each movement.
March 10, 1880:
Symphony no.2 “Spring” by John Knowles Paine (41) is performed for the first time, at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University.
May 17, 1881:
Incidental music to Sophocles’ play Oedipus tyrannus by John Knowles Paine (42) is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre of Harvard University, before a rapt audience including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Julia Ward Howe, and Charles Eliot Norton. The critics are complimentary.
February 16, 1882:
The Piano Trio op.22 by John Knowles Paine (43) is performed publicly for the first time, in Wesleyan Hall, Boston. See 18 December 1874.
March 2, 1882:
The Realm of Fancy op.36 a cantata by John Knowles Paine (43) to words of Keats is performed for the first time, at the Boston Music Hall.
April 26, 1882:
Summons to Love op.37, a cantata by John Knowles Paine (43) to words of Drummond, is performed for the first time, at the Boston Music Hall. It will eventually be known as Phoebus, Arise!
April 25, 1883:
Radway’s Ready Relief for male chorus by John Knowles Paine (44) to a contemporary advertisement for a patent medicine, is performed for the first time, in Boston, 20 years after it was composed.
May 2, 1883:
The Nativity op.38, a cantata by John Knowles Paine (44) to words of Milton, is performed for the first time, in Boston. It is very successful.
July 4, 1886:
Divine Love for chorus by John Knowles Paine (47) to words of Charles Wesley is performed for the first time, in Portland (Maine) City Hall as part of the centennial celebrations of the city.
May 22, 1888:
The Song of Promise op.43 for chorus and orchestra by John Knowles Paine (49) to words of Woodberry, is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati.
October 12, 1888:
Benjamin Johnson Lang gives a reception to welcome Edward MacDowell (27) to Boston. He invites 200 men, almost all musicians, including Arthur Foote (35) and John Knowles Paine (49).
April 20, 1889:
An Island Fantasy for orchestra by John Knowles Paine (50) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
October 21, 1892:
Columbus March and Hymn for chorus and orchestra by John Knowles Paine (53) is performed for the first time, at the dedication ceremonies of the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Also premiered is Ode for the Opening of the World’s Fair held at Chicago 1892 for vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, and band by George Whitefield Chadwick (37).
March 9, 1900:
Ballet music to the unperformed opera Azara by John Knowles Paine (61) is performed for the first time, in the Music Hall, Boston. See 7 May 1903.
May 10, 1901:
Incidental music to Aristophanes’ play The Birds by John Knowles Paine (62) is performed for the first time, in the Fogg Art Museum of Harvard University.
February 4, 1902:
Three new works are performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston: L’archet op.26 for soprano, viola d’amore, women’s chorus, and piano by Charles Martin Loeffler (41) to words of Cros (first public), Vita Nostra Plena Bellis op.47 for chorus by Arthur Foote (49), and an aria from John Knowles Paine’s (63) unperformed opera Azara. See 5 March 1901.
April 15, 1902:
Two airs from John Knowles Paine’s (63) unperformed opera Azara are performed for the first time, in Steinert Hall, Boston.
May 7, 1903:
Scenes from Azara, a grand opera by John Knowles Paine (64) to his own words, are performed for the first time, in a concert setting accompanied by piano, in Chickering Hall, Boston. See 10 March 1900.
April 30, 1904:
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition opens in St. Louis. Hymn of the West for chorus by John Knowles Paine (65) to words of Stedman, is performed for the first time, at the opening ceremonies. It is his last commission.
April 7, 1905:
Sylvania: A Wedding Cantata op.46 for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra by Amy Cheney Beach (37) to words of Bancroft after Bloem is performed for the first time, in Chickering Hall, Boston. Present are George Whitefield Chadwick (50) and John Knowles Paine (66) who consider it a triumph.
April 25, 1906:
John Knowles Paine dies at his home at 23 Hawthorn Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA of pneumonia complicated by diabetes mellitus, aged 67 years, three months, and 16 days.
April 27, 1906:
A funeral service is held in memory of John Knowles Paine in Appleton Chapel, Harvard University. Following this, the mortal remains are taken to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge for cremation.
April 9, 1907:
Azara, a grand opera by John Knowles Paine (†0) to his own words, is performed almost completely for the first time, in a concert setting in Symphony Hall, Boston. See 7 May 1903.
November 30, 1908:
In an official ceremony, the cornerstone is laid for the new Boston Opera House. Inside the stone is a compartment containing compositions by John Knowles Paine (†2), Edward MacDowell (†0), George Whitefield Chadwick (54), Charles Martin Loeffler (47), Horatio Parker (45), Amy Beach (41), and Frederick S. Converse (37).
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.
April 1, 2010:
Oros for piano by Charles Wuorinen (71) is performed for the first time, at John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, Harvard University.
December 6, 2012:
Two works by Roger Reynolds (78) are performed for the first time, in John Knowles Paine Concert Hall of Harvard University: imagE/viola and PASSAGE 8 : "On Learning, Varèse, Cage, Ashley, Musical Experience, and Intermedia", for various media.