December 31, 1899:
Silvestre Revueltas Sánchez is born in Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico, 875 km northwest of Mexico City. He is the oldest of twelve children born to José Revueltas Gutiérrez, a bookkeeper, and Romana Sánchez Arias, daughter of miners.
September 4, 1917:
With few prospects in Mexico, Silvestre Revueltas (17) and his younger brother Fermín enroll in St. Edward’s College in Austin, Texas.
February 22, 1918:
Silvestre Revueltas (18) performs music of Tchaikovsky (†24) and Massenet (†5) at a mass on the campus of St. Edward’s College, Austin, Texas, which he is attending.
May 26, 1918:
Silvestre Revueltas (18) performs as violin soloist at a commencement ceremony at St. Edwards College, Austin, Texas.
June 19, 1919:
Silvestre Revueltas (19) graduates from Chicago Musical College in violin, harmony, and composition.
December 31, 1919:
Silvestre Revueltas marries Jule Klaracy, a bookkeeper and music student, in Chicago. She immigrated from Austria in 1906. It is his 20th birthday.
May 11, 1920:
Silvestre Revueltas (20) is elected to the Chicago Federation of Musicians.
February 16, 1921:
The Tivoli Theatre opens in Chicago at 6329 Grove Avenue. It is the most luxurious of all the movie palaces in Chicago. The concertmaster of its orchestra is Silvestre Revueltas (22).
March 11, 1925:
Silvestre Revueltas (25) departs Chicago for Mexico without his wife. After six years in the city, he will never return.
April 26, 1925:
Silvestre Revueltas (25) gives a recital at the National Prepatory School in Mexico City, his first since moving back from Chicago.
November 14, 1926:
The San Antonio Express (Texas) announces that Silvestre Revueltas (26), “violin virtuoso and conductor”, has been added to the faculty of the San Antonio College of Music.
June 10, 1927:
Jule Klaracy is granted a divorce in Cook County, Illinois from Silvestre Revueltas (27). The composer left her two years ago. See 11 March 1925.
December 2, 1928:
The faculty of the San Antonio College of Music begin a chamber music series led by Silvestre Revueltas (28). The series intends to present lesser known music, both of modern and older masters. He sports a full beard, probably to cover scars recently received from a knife attack.
December 24, 1928:
Silvestre Revueltas (28) in San Antonio telegraphs Carlos Chávez (29) in Mexico City that he will be leaving to join him as soon as possible. Chávez asked Revueltas to teach violin at the new National Conservatory of Mexico and to direct the school’s orchestra.
November 20, 1931:
Esquinas for orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (31) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Arbeu, Mexico City, directed by the composer.
August 30, 1932:
Colorines for 14 instruments by Silvestre Revueltas (32) is performed for the first time, at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, Mexico City the composer conducting.
November 4, 1932:
Ventanas for orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (32) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Hidalgo, Mexico City, the composer conducting.
November 13, 1932:
Three works by Silvestre Revueltas (32) are performed for the first time, in Teatro Orientación, Mexico City directed by the composer: Dúo para pato y canario for voice and nine players to words of Barrera, El Tecolote for voice and eight instruments to words of Castañeda, and Ranas for voice and eleven instruments to words of Castañeda.
June 2, 1933:
The orchestral suite Cuauhnáhuac by Silvestre Revueltas (33) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Hidalgo, Mexico City.
October 13, 1933:
Janitzio for orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (33) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Hidalgo, Mexico City directed by the composer.
November 7, 1933:
String Quartet no.4 by Silvestre Revueltas (33) is performed for the first time, in Teatro Hidalgo, Mexico City.
July 17, 1934:
El Sol, a corrido mexicano for chorus and orchestra by Carlos Chávez (35) to traditional words reworked by Gutiérrez Cruz, is performed for the first time, in San Angel near Mexico City the composer conducting. Also on the program is the premiere of Caminos for orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (34).
November 5, 1934:
Danza Geométrica for orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (34) is performed for the first time, in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City.
May 12, 1936:
Music to the film Redes by Silvestre Revueltas (36) is performed for the first time, in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City directed by the composer.
July 16, 1937:
Silvestre Revueltas (38) and other members of a delegation from the League of Revolutionary Artists and Writers (Mexico) cross from France into Spain. Over the next three months, they will give concerts, lectures, poetry readings, and exhibitions in Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona.
July 20, 1937:
Homenaje a Federico García Lorca for 13 instruments by Silvestre Revueltas (37) is performed for the first time, in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City directed by Carlos Chávez (38).
September 13, 1937:
Spanish Civil War: On a trip to Spain, Silvestre Revueltas (37) delivers a radio broadcast in support of the loyalist cause.
September 17, 1937:
Mexico en España by Silvestre Revueltas (38) to words of Pascual Pla y Beltrán, is performed for the first time, in the Sala de la Sociedad Español de Amigos de México, in Madrid. It is an anthem for the Mexican fighters in Spain.
September 22, 1937:
While Madrid lays under siege by fascist rebels, Homenaje a Federico García Lorca for chamber orchestra by Silvestre Revueltas (37) is performed in the city under the baton of the composer. See 20 July 1937.
October 7, 1937:
The League of Revolutionary Artists and Writers from Mexico, including Silvestre Revueltas (38), makes its last anti-fascist demonstration in the Palau de la Música in Barcelona.
October 9, 1937:
The delegation from the Mexican League of Revolutionary Artists and Writers, including Silvestre Revueltas (38), departs Spain for Paris after three months of concerts, lectures, poetry readings, and exhibitions.
December 15, 1938:
Two works by Silvestre Revueltas (38) are performed for the first time, in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City directed by the composer: Sensemayá for solo voice and orchestra, and Música para Charlar for orchestra, taken from his film music.
October 5, 1940:
El Renacuajo Paseador, a ballet pantomime for marionettes by Silvestre Revueltas (40), is performed for the first time, in Mexico City. At the same time, the composer is found unconscious on a street in the city and taken to the home of his doctor.
October 6, 1940:
00:10 Silvetre Revueltas dies in Mexico City of bronchial pneumonia and the cumulative effects of alcoholism, aged 40 years, nine months, and six days. The oration at his funeral will be written and performed by Pablo Neruda. His earthly remains will be laid to rest in Panteón Civil de Dolores, Mexico City.
November 23, 1940:
La Coronela, a ballet by Silvestre Revueltas (†0), is performed for the first time, in Mexico City.
September 23, 1941:
La Coronela, a ballet by Silvestre Revueltas (†0) completed and orchestrated by Huizar and Galindo, is performed for the first time.
January 31, 1960:
Three works by Silvestre Revueltas (†19) are performed for the first time, in Guadalajara: La noche de los Mayas for orchestra, Hora de junio for reciter and small orchestra to words of Pellicer, and Itinerarios for orchestra.
December 20, 1974:
Adagio for piano by Silvestre Revueltas (†34) is performed for the first time, at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música, Mexico City 56 years after it was composed.