April 30, 1885:
Luigi Russolo is born in Portogruaro (Palazzo Altan Venanzio), Kingdom of Italy, the son of Dominico Russolo, organist of the cathedral in Portogruaro, and Elisabetta Russolo.
March 11, 1913:
Luigi Russolo (27) writes his The Art of Noises in the form of a letter to Francesco Pratella (33). He claims it came to him while witnessing Pratella’s recent futurist concert in Teatro Costanzi, Rome.
June 2, 1913:
Luigi Russolo (28) gives the first demonstration of an “Intonarumore” (noise-instrument) in the Teatro Stocchi, Modena. He calls the instrument a scoppiatore (crackler). It sounds like an internal combustion engine.
July 1, 1913:
In the issue of Lacerba dated today, an article by Luigi Russolo (28) entitled Gl’intonarumori futuristi appears. It sets out his beliefs and practical methods for achieving the “music of noise.”
August 11, 1913:
Luigi Russolo (28) conducts a concert of his own works for noise instruments in the Red House, Milan, including Awakening of a Capital, Meeting of Automobiles and Airplanes, Dining Time at the Casino Terrasse, and Skirmish at the Oasis.
April 21, 1914:
Luigi Russolo (28) gives a concert of “noise music” in Teatro del Verme, Milan before an overflow crowd. He presents the compositions A City's Reawakening, Dining on the Terrace of the Kursaal, and Meeting of Automobiles and Airplanes. A number of the audience, there for this specific purpose, attempt to disrupt the performance with boos, whistles, and “anti-noise” of all kinds, as well as launching produce towards the stage. In the middle of one piece, five musicians move from the stage to the audience and physically attack the demonstrators while their colleagues play on. One of the vanguard will remember, “It was a display of an amazing harmonic arrangement of bloody faces and dissonances, an infernal melee.” Eleven people are hospitalized. See 20 May 1914.
May 20, 1914:
Luigi Russolo (29) puts on a second concert of “noise music”, in the Teatro Politeama in Genoa. Although some protests are heard, they are quieted by other audience members. See 21 April 1914.
June 15, 1914:
Luigi Russolo (29) puts on a performance of his instruments and music in the London Coliseum. The audience reaction is less than polite.
September 20, 1914:
Futurists issue a “Futurist Syntheses of the War” signed by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, Luigi Russolo (29), and Ugo Piatti.
December 27, 1925:
Luigi Russolo (40) introduces a new noise instrument, the enharmonic bow, at a concert in the Teatro Popolo, Milan.
February 6, 1947:
Luigi Russolo dies in Cerro di Laveno, Varese, Italian Republic, aged 61 years, nine months, and seven days.
October 16, 1975:
Futuristie, a “manifestation sonore et visuelle en hommage à Luigi Russolo” by Pierre Henry (47) is performed for the first time, at the opening of the Théâtre National de Chaillot.