A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY IN THE CONTEXT OF WORLD EVENTS

Arthur Farwell

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April 23, 1872: Arthur George Farwell is born in a house on the corner of Grove and Olive Streets in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, second of two children born to George Lyman Farwell, owner of a hardware business, and Sara Gardner Wyer, a descendant of one of the first English families in New England, and the founder of the first kindergarten in St. Paul.
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June 17, 1888: Arthur Farwell (16) is confirmed in the Episcopal Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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June 11, 1889: Arthur Farwell (17) learns of his acceptance to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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May 29, 1893: Arthur Farwell (21) graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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October 17, 1896: The second movement of Suite for Grand Orchestra by Arthur Farwell (24) is performed for the first time, in Auburn, New York, under the title Andante from a New Suite.
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July 10, 1897: Arthur Farwell (25) arrives in London for two years of travel and study in Europe.
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August 17, 1897: Arthur Farwell (25) meets Engelbert Humperdinck (42) in Bayreuth. Humperdinck agrees to give Farwell lessons in the Fall.
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September 24, 1897: Arthur Farwell (25) arrives at his lodgings in Boppard am Rhein. In the evening, he dines at the estate of Engelbert Humperdinck (43) with whom he will presently study.
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May 2, 1899: Arthur Farwell (27) returns to the United States aboard the steamer Menominee after two years of travel and study in Europe. Farwell spent much time studying with Engelbert Humperdinck (44).
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December 1, 1901: A seven page pamphlet is published in Newton Center, Massachusetts announcing the establishment of the Wa-Wan Press “Established for the Periodical Publication of Contemporary American Compositions.” The editor of the Wa-Wan Press is Arthur Farwell (29).
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November 22, 1904: Two songs for voice and piano by Arthur Farwell (32) are performed for the first time, in Pasadena, California: A Ruined Garden op.14/1 to words of Marston and Requiescat to words of Heyman.
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April 20, 1905: Arthur Farwell (32) meets with Henry Gilbert (36) and other interested people in Boston to form the American Music Society to promote the music of living American composers.
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December 6, 1906: Love’s Secret op.14/2 for voice and piano by Arthur Farwell (34) to words of Blake is performed for the first time, in Detroit.
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March 5, 1908: Drake’s Drum op.22 for voice and piano by Arthur Farwell (35) to words of Newbolt is performed for the first time, in Omaha.
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August 24, 1910: The Domain of Hurakan op.15 for orchestra by Arthur Farwell (38) is performed for the first time, in Central Park, New York.
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May 5, 1911: Kahlil Gibran draws a portrait of Arthur Farwell (39) at Farwell’s New York studio. Gibran intends to include it in his publication of portraits of important men of art and knowledge. Farwell is extremely pleased with the drawing and expresses his desire that a photograph be made of it.
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July 4, 1911: Hymn to Liberty op.35 for chorus by Arthur Farwell (39) is performed for the first time, in New York.
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September 11, 1913: Sanctuary, A Bird Masque by Frederick S. Converse (42) and Arthur Farwell (41) to words of Mackaye, is performed for the first time, in Meriden, New Hampshire.
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September 13, 1916: Two hymns, March! March! and Joy! Brothers, Joy!, for chorus and orchestra by Arthur Farwell (44) to his own words, are performed for the first time, as part of the Song and Light Festival on the south shore of the lake near 72nd Street in Central Park, New York. The audience of about 60,000, who have the music in their programs, join in on the singing.
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June 5, 1917: Arthur Farwell (45) marries a 25-year-old actress, Gertrude Everts Brice, daughter of a civil engineer, in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York.
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July 1, 1918: Arthur Farwell (46) enters upon duties as Associate Professor of Music at the University of California at Berkeley.
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March 13, 1922: Owasco Memories op.8 for piano, violin, and cello by Arthur Farwell (49) is performed for the first time, in Pasadena, California 21 years after it was composed.
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August 22, 1924: Symphonic Song on Old Black Joe op.67 for orchestra and audience by Arthur Farwell (52) is performed for the first time, in Hollywood Bowl.
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April 23, 1925: Parts of Grail Song op.20, a masque for community singing, acting, and dancing by Arthur Farwell, are performed for the first time, in Los Angeles, on the composer’s 53rd birthday.
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December 13, 1929: An orchestral version of incidental music to Lord Dunsany’s play The Gods of the Mountain by Arthur Farwell (57) is performed for the first time, in Minneapolis.
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December 28, 1931: Land of Luthany op.87 for cello and piano by Arthur Farwell (59) is performed for the first time.
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January 14, 1937: A divorce between Arthur Farwell (64) and Gertrude Everts Brice is finalized.
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May 26, 1939: Symbolistic Study no.6 “Mountain Vision” for piano and orchestra by Arthur Farwell (67) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the CBS Radio Network.
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September 28, 1939: Arthur Farwell (67) marries his second wife, Betty Richardson, his former student 40 years his junior, in New York.
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January 12, 1942: Pawnee Horses for piano by Arthur Farwell (69) is performed for the first time, in New York, 37 years after it was composed.
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March 20, 1947: Two Acappella Choruses op.111 by Arthur Farwell (74) are performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
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September 2, 1949: Mountain Song, A Symphonic Song Ceremony of the High Sierras op.90 for chorus and orchestra by Arthur Farwell (77) is performed for the first time, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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January 20, 1952: Arthur George Farwell dies in Lexington Hospital, New York, New York, USA after a short illness, aged 79 years, eight months, and 28 days.