March 22, 1943:
Joseph Schwantner is born in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
March 18, 1979:
Sparrows for soprano and chamber ensemble by Joseph Schwantner (35) to words of Issa is performed for the first time, at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington.
January 15, 1983:
New Morning for the World “Daybreak of Freedom” for narrator and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (39) to words of Martin Luther King, is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.
April 23, 1983:
Magabunda (Witchnomad) for soprano and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (40) to words of Pizarro is performed for the first time, in St. Louis.
May 11, 1984:
Dreamcaller for soprano, violin, and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (41), to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
March 15, 1987:
Toward Light for orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (42) is performed for the first time, in Canton, Ohio.
July 8, 1988:
Concerto for piano and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (45) is performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York.
October 24, 1988:
Several works in honor of the 50th birthday of Joan Tower are performed for the first time, in Merkin Concert Hall, New York, including For Joan on her 50th for five players by John Corigliano (50), Minuet from Short Suite for four players by John Harbison (49), and Tower Power for five players by Joseph Schwantner (45).
May 9, 1989:
Freeflight for orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (46) is performed for the first time, in Boston.
April 16, 1990:
A Play of Shadows for flute and chamber orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (47) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
October 9, 1992:
Through Interior Worlds, a ballet for orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (49), is performed for the first time, in Seattle.
January 6, 1995:
Concerto for percussion and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (51) is performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York.
November 24, 1995:
Evening Land Symphony for soprano and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (52) is performed for the first time, in Saint Louis.
September 30, 1999:
Beyond Autumn for horn and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (56) is performed for the first time, in Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, Dallas.
February 21, 2002:
September Canticle for organ, brass, percussion, amplified piano, and strings by Joseph Schwantner (58) is performed for the first time, in Eugene McDermott Concert Hall, Dallas.
November 8, 2002:
Angelfire for amplified violin and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (59) is performed for the first time, in the Kennedy Center, Washington.
January 25, 2004:
New Morning for the World for narrator and chamber orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (60), to words of Martin Luther King, Jr., is performed for the first time, in Sanders Theatre of Harvard University.
November 3, 2004:
Recoil for wind ensemble by Joseph Schwantner (61) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
February 23, 2006:
Morning’s Embrace for orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (62) is performed for the first time, in the Kennedy Center, Washington.
October 12, 2006:
Rhiannon’s Blackbirds for piccolo/flute, clarinet/bass clarinet, violin/viola, cello, piano, and percussion by Joseph Schwantner (63) is performed for the first time, at the Modlin Center for the Arts of the University of Richmond, Virginia.
April 20, 2007:
New Morning for the World for wind ensemble by Joseph Schwantner (64) is performed for the first time, in Tallahassee, Florida.
January 17, 2008:
Silver Halo for flute quartet by Joseph Schwantner (64) is performed for the first time, in Weill Recital Hall, New York.
September 20, 2008:
Chasing Light… for chamber orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (65) is performed for the first time, in Nightingale Concert Hall, Reno, Nevada.
August 15, 2009:
Looking Back for flute and piano by Joseph Schwantner (66) is performed for the first time, in New York.
September 23, 2010:
The Poet’s Hour for violins and strings by Joseph Schwantner (67) is performed for the first time, in Benaroya Hall, Seattle.
November 11, 2011:
Concerto no.2 for percussion, timpani, and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (68) is performed for the first time, in Hilbert Circle Theatre, Indianapolis.
June 6, 2012:
Taking Charge for flute, piano, and percussion by Joseph Schwantner (69) is performed for the first time, in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
June 8, 2012:
Two new works for piano are performed for the first time, in the Schott Music Recital Room, London: Waltz Solemnity by Toshi Ichiyanagi (79), and Palindrome’s Dance by Joseph Schwantner (69).
October 21, 2012:
Dream Drapery “Thoreau Songs” for voice and string quartet by Joseph Schwantner (69) is performed for the first time, in Indianapolis.
February 9, 2014:
Chapel Music, a cycle for chorus and orchestra by Joseph Schwantner (70), to words of Yeats, Thoreau, Herbert, St. John of the Cross, and the Bible, is performed for the first time, in Alice Millar Chapel of Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
April 24, 2015:
Luminosity for wind ensemble by Joseph Schwantner (72) is performed for the first time, in Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts at Emory University, Atlanta.
November 30, 2017:
The Awakening Hour for wind ensemble by Joseph Schwantner (74) is performed for the first time, in van der Mehden Recital Hall of the University of Connecticut, Storrs.