April 23, 1858:
Ethel Mary Smyth is born in a house on St. John's Road, Sidcup, Kent (now in Greater London), United Kingdom, the fourth of eight children born to Major General John Smyth, currently in India, and Nina Struth, descended from minor nobility. The birth certificate says 22 April, but Smyth and her family will always celebrate 23 April.
July 26, 1877:
Ethel Smyth (19) leaves home in London making for study at Leipzig Conservatory.
June 2, 1880:
String Quartet in d minor by Ethel Smyth (22) is performed for the first time, in Leipzig.
January 26, 1884:
String Quartet in E by Ethel Smyth (25) is performed for the first time, in the Leipzig Gewandhaus.
November 20, 1887:
Sonata in a minor for violin and piano by Ethel Smyth (29) is performed for the first time, in the Leipzig Gewandhaus.
March 22, 1888:
Joseph Joachim writes to Ethel Smyth (29) telling her that the compositions she sent him are “unnatural, far-fetched, overwrought and not good as to sound.” (Collis, 43)
April 26, 1890:
Serenade for orchestra by Ethel Smyth (32) is performed for the first time, at the Crystal Palace, London. It is her debut as a composer in her homeland. The press is generally positive.
October 18, 1890:
Overture to Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra for orchestra by Ethel Smyth (32) is performed for the first time, in Crystal Palace, London.
January 18, 1893:
Mass in D by Ethel Smyth (34) is performed for the first time, in Albert Hall, London.
May 24, 1898:
Fantasio, a phantastiche Komödie by Ethel Smyth (40) to words of Brewster and the composer after de Musset, is performed for the first time, in the Weimar Hoftheater.
April 9, 1902:
Der Wald, a Musik-Drama by Ethel Smyth (43) to words of Brewster and the composer, is performed for the first time, in the Royal Opera House, Berlin. (There is considerable confusion about this date. Some think it is 21 April, and Smyth herself couldn’t recall for sure)
July 18, 1902:
Ethel Smyth’s (44) opera Der Wald is performed at Covent Garden before a glittering audience including members of the royal family. The press is generally positive, the public ecstatic. It is “the only real blazing theatre triumph I have ever had.” (Smyth, 254)
March 11, 1903:
Ethel Smyth's (44) music drama Der Wald is produced at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. It is the first opera composed by a woman to be performed there.
November 11, 1906:
Strandrecht, a lyrical drama by Ethel Smyth (48) to words of Brewster and the composer (tr. Decker and Bernhoff), is performed for the first time, in the Neuestheater, Leipzig. See 22 June 1909.
November 12, 1907:
Harnham Down for orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams (35) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London. Also premiered are three songs by Ethel Smyth (49) for voice and chamber orchestra to words of Régnier: Odette, La Danse, and Chrysilla.
June 22, 1909:
The Wreckers, a lyrical drama by Ethel Smyth (51) to words of Brewster and the composer, in an English translation by Strettell and the composer, is performed for the first time, in His Majesty’s Theatre, London. See 11 November 1906.
September 24, 1909:
The first festival of The Musical League takes place in Liverpool today and tomorrow. It features music by English composers including Ethel Smyth (51), Frederick Delius (47), Ralph Vaughan Williams (36), Frank Bridge (30), Percy Grainger (27), and Arnold Bax (25).
October 26, 1910:
Hey Nonny No for chorus and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (52) to anonymous words, is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
January 20, 1911:
Ethel Smyth’s (52) feminist anthem March of the Women, to words of Hamilton, is performed for the first time, at a ceremony for released suffragette prisoners.
March 23, 1911:
At a meeting of the Woman’s Suffrage Party in Albert Hall, a ceremony takes place honoring Ethel Smyth (52). She is presented with a gold baton.
April 1, 1911:
Songs of Sunrise, a cycle for chorus by Ethel Smyth (52) to her own words and Hamilton, is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London, conducted by the composer. The suffragists in the audience like it, the critics do not.
June 17, 1911:
A massive parade of between 40,000-60,000 march on an eight km route through London in favor of suffrage for women. The event is timed around the coronation of King George V. As they march, they sing Ethel Smyth’s (53) March of the Women accompanied by bands.
June 29, 1911:
A Spring Canticle for chorus and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (53) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London, conducted by the composer.
March 4, 1912:
A suffragist rally at the London Pavilion is addressed by Ethel Smyth (53) among others. This precedes a massive demonstration in Parliament Square. They then move on to Knightsbridge and Kensington to do damage. Ethel Smyth is arrested after hurling a projectile at the home of Colonial Secretary Lewis Harcourt. She will be sentenced to two months with hard labor, later reduced to one month.
April 4, 1912:
Ethel Smyth (53) is released from Holloway Prison after three weeks. She broke the window of Colonial Secretary Lewis Harcourt.
July 14, 1912:
A massive suffragist demonstration takes place in Hyde Park, London. Ethel Smyth (54) conducts a band of 150 in her March of the Women.
June 23, 1913:
Three Moods of the Sea for solo voice and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (55) to words of Symons, is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
December 8, 1913:
Ethel Smyth (55) arrives in Alexandria, Egypt for a rest and composition.
December 3, 1914:
String Quartet in e minor by Ethel Smyth (56) is performed for the first time, in Aeolian Hall, London.
August 26, 1915:
The overture to Ethel Smyth’s (57) unperformed opera The Boatswain’s Mate is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London. See 28 January 1916.
January 28, 1916:
The Boatswain’s Mate, a comedy by Ethel Smyth (57) to her own words after Jacobs, is performed for the first time, in the Shaftesbury Theatre, London. See 26 August 1915.
September 16, 1919:
Ethel Smyth (61) meets Edith Somerville, an author, artist, and farmer, for the first time, at a railroad station in Ireland. They will become lovers.
June 4, 1923:
Fête galante, a dance-dream by Ethel Smyth (65) to words of Shanks and the composer after Baring, is performed for the first time, in the Repertory Theatre, Birmingham, the composer conducting.
August 8, 1924:
An orchestral suite from the opera Fête galante by Ethel Smyth (66) is performed for the first time, at Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, conducted by the composer. See 4 June 1923.
July 22, 1925:
Entente cordiale, a postwar comedy by Ethel Smyth (67) to her own words, is performed for the first time, at the Royal College of Music, London. See 20 October 1926.
October 20, 1926:
Entente cordiale, a postwar comedy by Ethel Smyth (68) to her own words, is performed professionally for the first time, in Theatre Royal, Bristol.
December 8, 1926:
Sonata in a minor for cello and piano by Ethel Smyth (68) is performed for the first time, in London, 39 years after it was composed.
March 5, 1927:
Double Concerto for violin, horn, and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (68) is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
February 11, 1928:
Variations on Bonny Sweet Robin for flute, oboe, and piano by Ethel Smyth (69) is performed for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London.
February 20, 1930:
Ethel Smyth (71) and Virginia Woolf meet for the first time at Woolf’s London home.
May 8, 1930:
Fanfare for a Cheerful Occasion for brass and percussion by Arnold Bax (46) is performed for the first time, privately at the Musicians Benevolent Fund annual dinner in the Savoy Hotel, London. Also premiered is Hot Potatoes, a fanfare for brass and percussion by Ethel Smyth (72). See 26 May 1932.
September 4, 1930:
Ode Anacréontique for voice and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (72) to anonymous words, is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
January 21, 1931:
Ethel Smyth (72) and Virginia Woolf give a joint presentation on the subject of Music and Literature at a meeting of the London and National Society for Women's Service. Woolf says that Smyth is "of the race of pioneers, of pathmakers...[who] has gone before and felled trees and blasted rocks and built bridges and thus made a way for those who come after her." (Wiley, 274)
February 19, 1931:
The Prison, a symphony for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra by Ethel Smyth (72) to words of Brewster, is performed for the first time, in Usher Hall, Edinburgh the composer conducting.
January 3, 1934:
As part of celebrations to mark her 75th birthday, an all-Ethel Smyth (75) concert takes place in Queen’s Hall, London.
March 3, 1934:
Ethel Smyth’s (75) Mass in D is performed in Albert Hall, London conducted by Thomas Beecham as part of celebrations marking her 75th birthday. The composer sits beside Queen Mary in the royal box.
January 3, 1935:
A suite from Ethel Smyth’s (76) opera Entente cordiale is performed for the first time, in Queen’s Hall, London.
May 8, 1944:
Ethel Mary Smyth dies at her cottage Coign (now Brettanby Cottage) at Hook Heath in Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom, aged 86 years and 16 days. Her mortal remains will be laid to rest in Brompton Cemetery, West Brompton, Greater London.
February 16, 1981:
Sonata in c minor for cello and piano by Ethel Smyth (†36) is performed publicly for the first time, in Wigmore Hall, London 101 years after it was composed.
August 30, 1985:
Piano Trio in d minor by Ethel Smyth (†41) is performed publicly for the first time, at Grinnell College, Iowa, 105 years after it was composed.