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

Henri Pousseur

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June 23, 1929: Henri Léon Marie Thérèse Pousseur is born in Malmédy, Kingdom of Belgium.
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December 5, 1953: Pierre Boulez (28), Henri Pousseur (24), and Michel Fano travel from Paris to Cologne where Karlheinz Stockhausen (25) plays for them the first parts of Studie I that he has composed.
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October 19, 1954: Studie I & II no.3 for electronic sound generators by Karlheinz Stockhausen (26) are performed for the first time, in the Funkhaus, Cologne, in an all-electronic/serial concert over the airwaves of West German Radio. Also premiered is Seismogramme by Henri Pousseur (25). Earlier in the day, Stockhausen makes the acquaintance of John Cage (42) and David Tudor.
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April 25, 1955: Symphonies à quinze Solistes for instrumental ensemble by Henri Pousseur (25) is performed for the first time, in Paris.
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December 6, 1962: The mobile version of Répons for seven musicians by Henri Pousseur (33) is performed for the first time, in Brussels. The fixed version was premiered in 1960. The work is dedicated to John Cage (50).
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March 17, 1968: Votre Faust, an opera by Henri Pousseur (38) with four alternate endings from which the audience chooses, is performed for the first time, in a concert setting, in Buffalo. See 15 January 1969.
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December 20, 1968: Two works are performed for the first time, in Brussels: Domaines for clarinet and 21 instruments by Pierre Boulez (43) (first complete), and Couleurs Croisées for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (39). See 20 September 1968.
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January 15, 1969: Votre Faust, a fantaisie variable genre opéra by Henri Pousseur (39) to words of Butor, is performed for the first time, in Piccola Scala, Milan. See 17 March 1968.
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April 22, 1969: Eight Songs for a Mad King, a stage work for male voice, piccolo, flute, clarinet, keyboards, percussion, violin, and cello by Peter Maxwell Davies (34) to words of Stow, is performed for the first time, in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, the composer conducting. Also premiered are works by eleven composers in honor of Dr. Alfred Kalmus, the director of Universal Edition, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. They are presented as A Garland for Dr. K. by the Pierrot Players and include Some Petals from my Twickenham Herbarium for piccolo, clarinet, viola, cello, piano, and bells by Harrison Birtwistle (34), conducted by the composer, Für Dr. K. no.28 for flute, clarinet, piano, vibraphone, tubular bells, violin, and cello by Karlheinz Stockhausen (40), conducted by Pierre Boulez (44), Pour le Dr Kalmus for flute, clarinet, viola, cello, and piano by Pierre Boulez, the composer conducting, Modification and Instrumentation of a Famous Hornpipe as a Merry and Altogether Sincere Homage to Uncle Alfred for flute, clarinet, percussion, harpsichord, viola, and cello by Luciano Berio (43), and Echos II de votre Faust for mezzo-soprano, flute, violoncello, and piano by Henri Pousseur (39). Also premiered is Birtwistle’s Linoi II for clarinet, piano, tape, and dancer. See 11 October 1968.
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April 20, 1970: Les Éphémérides d’Icare 2 for soloist and ensemble by Henri Pousseur (40) is performed for the first time, in Madrid.
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November 29, 1970: Croisées des couleurs croisées for female voice, pianos, two tape recorders, and two radios by Henri Pousseur (41) is performed for the first time, in Lincoln Center, New York.
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January 25, 1971: Two works are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of Brussels Radio: Invitation à L’Utopie for speaker, two female voices, chorus, and instruments by Henri Pousseur (41), and Concerto for Eleven op.32 for eleven players by Alexander Goehr (38) conducted by the composer.
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September 12, 1974: Die Erprobung des Petrus Hebraicus, a musikalisches Kammertheater by Henri Pousseur (45) to words of Wintgens and the composer, is performed for the first time, in Berlin, conducted by the composer.
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February 12, 1977: Petite Chronique Illustree for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (47) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
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March 9, 1977: Grande Chronique Berlinoise for baritone and string quintet by Henri Pousseur (47) is performed for the first time, in London.
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October 1, 1977: Liège à Paris for tape by Henri Pousseur (48) is performed for the first time, in the Centre Georges-Pompidou, Paris.
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March 12, 1978: Humeurs du future Quotidien for two reciters and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (48), to words of Butor and the composer, is performed for the first time, in Paris.
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March 23, 1979: Les Ruines de Jeruzona for chorus and rhythm section by Henri Pousseur (49) is performed for the first time, in Brussels, directed by the composer.
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November 27, 1980: Les Îles déchaînées for jazz combo, synthesizers, and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (51) is performed for the first time, in the Cirque Royal, Brussels.
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December 16, 1980: Chroniques berlinoises for piano quintet with baritone ad lib by Henri Pousseur (51) is performed for the first time, in New York.
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November 9, 1981: La Seconde Apothéose de Rameau for instrumental ensemble by Henri Pousseur (52) is performed for the first time, at the Théâtre de la Ville, Paris.
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August 6, 1982: La Rose des Voix for four reciters, four vocal quartets, four choruses, and eight instruments by Henri Pousseur (53), to words of Butor, is performed for the first time, in Namur, directed by the composer.
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February 24, 1983: La Passion selon Guignol for amplified vocal quartet and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (53) is performed for the first time, in Liège.
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April 28, 1983: Quatrième Vue sur les Jardins interdits for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (53) is performed for the first time, in Maastricht.
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November 18, 1983: Trajets dans les Arpents du Ciel for solo instrument and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (54) is performed for the first time, in Metz.
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November 2, 1984: Cortege des Belles Tenebreuses au Jardin Boreal for six players by Henri Pousseur (55) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
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March 4, 1985: Prospection for three pianos by Henri Pousseur (55) is performed for the first time, in the Great Hall of the Conservatoire, Liège 33 years after it was composed.
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October 20, 1985: Nacht der Nächte for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (56) is performed for the first time, in the Staatsoper, Hamburg.
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November 8, 1985: Sur le Qui-Vive for female voice, five instruments, and electronics by Henri Pousseur (56) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of Radio France originating in Paris, directed by the composer.
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July 6, 1987: Un Jardin de Passacailles for chamber orchestra by Henri Pousseur (58) is performed for the first time, in Montpellier.
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March 4, 1989: Déclarations d’Orage for speaker, two solo voices, alto saxophone, tuba, synthesizer, and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (59) and Michel Butor to words of Blake, Neruda, Schiller, and Mai is performed for the first time, in Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels.
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June 23, 1989: Two works by Henri Pousseur are performed for the first time, in London on his 60th birthday: Mnémosyne (doublement) obstinée for string quartet with female voice ad lib, and Flexions hermétiques pour Baudelaire.
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September 26, 1990: Amen for chorus by Henri Pousseur (61) is performed for the first time, in Rome.
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March 27, 1991: Puer natus for three voices by Henri Pousseur (61) is performed for the first time, in Centre Culturel du Botanique, Brussels.
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November 14, 1991: Leçons d’Enfer, a music theatre by Henri Pousseur (62) to his own words after Rimbaud and Butor, is performed for the first time, in Metz.
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June 11, 1993: Dichterliebesreigentraum for two singers, two pianos, chamber chorus, and chamber orchestra by Henri Pousseur (63), to words of Heine and the composer, is performed for the first time, in Amsterdam.
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November 5, 1994: Caprices de Saxicare for saxophone, strings and percussion by Henri Pousseur (65) is performed for the first time, in Salle Bayard, Dinant.
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February 3, 1995: Le Sablier du Phenix for reciter, vocal quintet, and chamber orchestra by Henri Pousseur (65), to words of Butor, is performed for the first time, in Théâtre Royal, Mons.
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September 25, 1995: Les Fouilles de Jeruzona for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (66) is performed for the first time, in Louvain.
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May 7, 1996: New works are performed for the first time, in Basel: Pol for six players by Wolfgang Rihm (44), Rasche Fuge zur Sache Bach for string quartet by Henri Pousseur (66), and Voie lactée ô soeur lumineuse, a toccata for 19 instruments in honor of Paul Sacher by Hans Werner Henze (69).
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February 23, 1997: Arcs-en-ciel de Remparts for variable instruments and singers by Henri Pousseur (67) to words of Butor and the composer, is performed for the first time, in Église Saint-Pierre, Chartres.
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October 15, 1998: Danseurs Gnidiens cherchant la Perle clémentine for small orchestra by Henri Pousseur (69) is performed for the first time, in Louvain.
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November 6, 1998: Auguri, Popli! for trumpet, horn, and trombone by Henri Pousseur (69) is performed for the first time, in Cagliari.
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June 28, 1999: Two works by Henri Pousseur (70) are performed for the first time, in L’église Saint Jacques, Liège: Les Métamorphoses de Marie-Madeleine for chorus, piano, and two percussionists to his own words, and Ombres enlacées for organ.
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October 7, 1999: La Lune et les Flots for string trio by Henri Pousseur (70) is performed for the first time, in Hannover.
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October 23, 2000: Two works by Henri Pousseur (71) are performed for the first time, in Louvain: Icare aux Jardins du Verseau for piano, percussion, and seven instruments, and Anneaux du Soleil for piano.
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May 5, 2001: Suites studieuses for three instruments by Henri Pousseur (71) is performed for the first time, in L’Aquila.
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November 16, 2001: Six of the Seize Paysages planétaires by Henri Pousseur (72) are performed for the first time, at the University of Cologne.
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November 24, 2001: Eclipticare ou les Periples Constellés for one, two, or three instruments by Henri Pousseur (72) is performed for the first time, in Céroux-Mousty, Belgium.
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February 1, 2003: Two works by Henri Pousseur (73) are performed for the first time, in La-Chaux-de-Fonds: Reflets d’Arc-en-Ciel for violin and piano and Aiguillages au Carrefour des Immortels for 16 or 17 instrumental soloists.
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May 23, 2003: Les Icare africains for vocal soloists, chorus, and orchestra by Henri Pousseur (73) is performed for the first time, in the Milan Cathedral.
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April 29, 2004: Litanie du Miel des Nuits Hivernales for viola and piano by Henri Pousseur (74) is performed for the first time, in Ixelles.
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November 21, 2004: Voix et Vues planétaires for multimedia by Henri Pousseur (75) is performed for the first time, in the Théâtre de la Balsamine, Brussels.
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January 26, 2006: Il sogno di Leporello for orchestra by Henri Pousseur (76) is performed for the first time, in Freiburg.
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June 29, 2006: L’Antre de la Nymphe for female voice and five players by Henri Pousseur (77) to words of Butor is performed for the first time, at Castello Caetani de Sermoneta.
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August 9, 2007: Petit Mausolée Ambulant for cello and piano by Henri Pousseur (78) is performed for the first time, in Stavelot, Belgium.
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November 12, 2007: Paravent du Vieux Moine for piano by Henri Pousseur (78) is performed for the first time, in Le Salon Mativa, Liège.
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December 28, 2007: Auguri per I Lustri Futuri for oboe, clarinet, percussion, piano, and string quintet by Henri Pousseur (78) is performed for the first time, in Prato.
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February 15, 2008: Dépli et Configuartion de l’Ombre for arpeggione by Henri Pousseur (78) is performed for the first time, in Grande Salle du Conservatoire, Brussels.
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May 31, 2008: Minima Sinfonia for string quartet and female voice ad.lib. by Henri Pousseur (78) is performed for the first time, in Riverside Church, New York.
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March 6, 2009: Henri Léon Marie Thérèse Pousseur dies of bronchial pneumonia in Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, aged 79 years, eight months, and eleven days.
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March 13, 2009: Stèle for bass clarinet by Henri Pousseur (79) is performed for the first time, in Brussels.
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November 30, 2012: Huit petites Géométries for seven players by Henri Pousseur (†3) is performed for the first time, in Sala delle Feste di Palazzo Bastogi, Florence.