This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.
1910
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) completed Caprice Viennois, for violin and piano, op. 2
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) completed Praeludium and Allegro (in the style of Pugnani), for violin and piano
Ein Tanzspiel by Franz Schreker (1878-1934) was first performed in Vienna, Austria
March 1 – Suite in A major, op. 98b, B190, “American” by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) was first performed in Prague, Czech Republic
March 9 – Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania
April 6 – A Somerset Rhapsody, op. 21, no. 2 (H. 87) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
April 23 – Italia, Rhapsody for Orchestra, op. 11, by Alfredo Casella (1883-1947) was first performed in Paris, France
May 29 – Mily Balakirev (1837-1910) died in Saint Petersburg, Russia
June 25 – The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was first performed in Paris, France
September 6 – Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was first performed in Gloucester, England
September 12 – Symphony No. 8 in E♭ major by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was first performed in Munich, Germany
1911
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) completed Ma Mère l’Oye (“Mother Goose”) Suite
Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) completed Recitative and Scherzo-Caprice, for solo violin, op. 6
Percy Grainger (1882-1961) completed Irish Tune from County Derry (BFMS No. 29)
February 21 – Berceuse élégiaque, op. 42 (BV 252a) by Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) was first performed in New York, New York
February 27 – Pavane pour une infante défunte [“Pavane for a dead princess”] (orchestrated version) by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was first performed in Manchester, England
March 8 – Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) was born in Somerville, Massachusetts
March 16 – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Third Group, op. 26 (H. 99), for women’s chorus and harp, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in Blackburn, Lancashire, England
March 22 – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Second Group, op. 26 (H. 98), for women’s chorus and orchestra, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
April 3 – Symphony No. 4 by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was first performed in Helsinki, Finland
May 2 – Invocation for Cello and Orchestra, op. 19, no. 2 (H. 75) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
May 3 – Préludes pour piano, Book 1, by Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was first performed in Paris, France
May 18 – Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) died in Vienna, Austria
June 14 – Johan Svendsen (1840-1911) died in Copenhagen, Denmark
July 7 – Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007) was born in Cadegliano-Viconago, Italy
August 1 – Autumnal, op. 8, by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
September 14 – Five Mystical Songs, for baritone, chorus, and orchestra, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was first performed in Worcester, England
December 3 – Nino Rota (1911-1979) was born in Milan, Italy
December 6 – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, First Group, op. 26 (H. 97), for chorus and orchestra, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England
December 23 – I gioielli della Madonna (The Jewels of the Madonna), opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948), was first performed in Berlin, Germany
1912
Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) completed Three Pieces, op. 23
February 28 – Violin Concerto, op. 33 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark
March 21 – Two Eastern Pictures, for women’s voices and harp (H. 112), by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in Blackburn, Lancashire, England
April 22 – La Péri, ballet by Paul Dukas (1865-1935), was first performed in Paris, France
May 1 –Beni Mora, Oriental Suite for orchestra, op. 29, no. 1 (H. 107) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
June 8 – Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was first performed in Paris, France
June 26 – Symphony No. 9 by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was first performed in Vienna, Austria
July 23 – Aristophanic Suite, The Wasps, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was first performed in London, England
August 7 – Piano Concerto No. 1 in D♭ major, op. 10 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
August 13 – Jules Massenet (1842-1912) died in Paris, France
September 24 – The Sea, Suite for Orchestra, H. 100 by Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was first performed in London, England
1913
St. Paul’s Suite, for string orchestra, op. 29, no. 2 (H. 118) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968) completed Questo fu il carro della Morte, op. 2
April 24 – Canto serioso, for horn and piano, FS 132 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark
May 6 – Gyula Dávid (1913-1977) was born in Kecskemét, Hungary
July 1 – Erik Satie (1866-1925) completed Embryons desséchés
October 12 – Four Tone Poems after Arnold Böcklin, op. 128 by Max Reger (1873-1916) was first performed in Essen, Germany
October 23 – On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring by Frederick Delius (1862-1934) was first performed in Leipzig, Germany
November 22 – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was born in Lowestoft, England
1914
Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) completed Variations on a Nursery Song, op. 25
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) completed Il Tramonto (“The Sunset”), for mezzo-soprano and string quartet, P 101
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) completed Sinfonia Drammatica in B♭ minor, P 102
February 5 – Ten Pieces, op. 12 , for piano, by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
March 18 – Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda, Fourth Group, op. 26 (H. 100), for men’s chorus and orchestra, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
March 27 – Symphony No. 2, “A London Symphony”, by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was first performed in London, England
June 27 – Gustav Holst (1874-1934) completed A Dirge for Two Veterans (H. 121) for male voices, brass, and percussion in 1914 prior to this date
August 28 – Anatoly Lyadov (1855-1914) died near Borovichi, Russia
November 12 – Second Quintet in E♭ minor for Piano and Strings, op. 26, by Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) was first performed in Berlin, Germany
1915
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) completed “Christmas Carol for Homeless Children”, for children’s chorus (Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maison: Nous n’avons plus de maison), CD 147
George Enescu (1881-1955) completed Orchestral Suite No. 2, in C major, op. 20
May – English Pastoral Impressions, op. 26, by Ernest Farrar (1885-1918) was first performed in Harrogate, England
1916
Franz Schreker (1878-1934) completed Verschwiegene Liebe (Silent Love), arrangement for voice and orchestra of Eichendorff Lieder: No. 3 by Hugo Wolf (1860-1903)
Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974) completed Symphony No. 3 in D major, op. 10, “Västkustbilder” (“West Coast Pictures”)
January 29 – Scythian Suite, op. 20 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia
April 9 – Nights in the Gardens of Spain, for piano and orchestra, G. 49 by Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) was first performed in Madrid, Spain
April 11 – Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina
May 11 – Max Reger (1873-1916) died in Leipzig, Germany
1917
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) completed the Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1, P 109
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) completed Song of the Black Swan (Canto do cysne negro), for cello and piano, W122
Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974) completed the Suite No. 3, op. 19, no. 1, for violin, viola, and string orchestra
Ilse Fromm-Michaels (1888-1986) completed Piano Sonata, op. 6
Ilse Fromm-Michaels (1888-1986) completed Walzerreigen, op. 7
March 11 – The Fountains of Rome, tone poem, P 106 by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) was first performed in Rome, Italy
May 3 – Schelomo: Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra, B. 39 by Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was first performed in New York, New York
July 24 – Robert Farnon (1917-2005) was born in Toronto, Canada
September 15 – Richard Arnell (1917-2009) was born in London, England
November 8 – Mikhail Goldstein (1917-1989) was born in Odesa, Ukraine
1918
Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) completed D’un Soir Triste, symphonic poem
January – Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) completed the orchestral version of D’un matin de printemps
January 20 – Violin Sonata in B minor, P 110 by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) was first performed in Naples, Italy
February 11 – Pan and Syrinx, symphonic poem in F major, op. 49 by Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark
February 11 – Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was first performed in Budapest, Hungary
March 15 – Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) died in Mézy-sur-Seine, France
March 25 – Claude Debussy (1862-1918) died in Paris, France
April 9 – Le bourgeois gentilhomme, orchestral suite, op. 60 by Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was first performed in Berlin, Germany
April 21 – Symphony No. 1 in D major, op. 25, “Classical”, by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia
July 3 – Heroic Elegy, op. 36, by Ernest Farrar (1885-1918) was first performed in Harrogate, England
August 25 – Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts
September 18 – Ernest Farrar (1885-1918) died near Le Cateau, Cambrai, France (World War I casualty)
September 29 – The Planets, op. 32 (H. 125) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
1919
Percy Grainger (1882-1961) completed the orchestral version of Colonial Song (Sentimental No. 1)
Peter Warlock (1894-1930) completed the choral work Balulalow
George Gershwin (1898-1937) completed Lullaby, for string quartet
March 31 – Two Studies for Doktor Faust, BV 282 by Ferruccio Busoni (1866-1924) was first performed in Zürich, Switzerland
April 11 – Le Tombeau de Couperin [“The Tomb of Couperin”] (piano version) by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was first performed in Paris, France
June 5 – La Boutique fantasque (“The Fantastic Toyshop”), ballet based upon piano pieces by Gioachino Rossini, P 120 by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936) was first performed in London, England
June 22 – The White Peacock (orchestral version) by Charles Griffes (1884-1920) was first performed in New York, New York
September 1 – Japanese Suite, op. 33 (H. 126) by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was first performed in London, England
October 27 – Cello Concerto in E minor, op. 85 by Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was first performed in London, England
November 16 – Poem for Flute and Orchestra, A. 93 by Charles Griffes (1884-1920) was first performed in New York, New York
November 24 – Symphony No. 5 in E♭ major, op. 82 by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was first performed in Helsinki, Finland
November 28 – The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan, tone poem by Charles Griffes (1884-1920) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts
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