1861

The Civil War Begins

In 2025, Thomas L. Read writes Misgivings for SATB a cappella after the 1860 poem by Herman Melville.

 

1861

Colorado becomes a territory after Pike's Peak Gold Rush brings an influx of white settlers

In 2016, John D. McDonald writes Four Pioneer Shorts for solo cello, for Erika O'Conor and the film ColoradoWomanArts Pioneers.

 

1862

Emancipation Proclamation

In 1961, Robert Kelly writes the Emancipation Symphony (Symphony No. 3) for orchestra or wind band, on texts of Lincoln, Whitman, and Howe

In 1984, Dorothy Rudd Moore writes Frederick Douglass: An Opera in 3 Acts.
 - Piano-Vocal Score
 - Lullaby for soprano and piano
 - I Know Your Pain for soprano and piano

 

1863

Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address

In 1942, John J. Becker writes Symphony No. 6 "Out of Bondage" for Narrator, Chorus, and Orchestra.

In 1991, Brian Bevelander writes Letter from Nathaniel Giles for Mixed Sextet and Electronics, on the 1863 letter from union soldier Nathaniel Giles.

 

1865

The Civil War Ends

Juneeteenth: Emancipation comes to Texas on June 19

In 1992, Earl Louis Stewart writes the Symphony No. 4 ("Juneteenth") to commemorate the original celebrations, using ragtime and spirituals.
 - Full Score
 - Piano-Vocal Score
 - Adagio alla Spiritual (a stand-alone movement) for choir and ochestra

 

1876

The Lakota war leader Crazy Horse (Tȟašúŋke Witkó) defeat George A. Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand)

In 1957, Charles Mills writes the Crazy Horse Symphony (Symphony No. 4) for Orchestra.

 

1877

Chief Joseph (hinmatóowyalahtq̓it) flees with Nez Perce to Canada after warring with white settlers

In 1989, John Verrall writes the The Chief Joseph Legend: Symphony in Five Movements for Baritone, Choir, and Orchestra

 

1886

The Statue of Liberty and its pedestal are erected in New York

In 2017, Tom Flaherty writes A Lamp Unto Thy Tweet for Soprano, Bass Voice, and Mixed Quartet after the 1903 poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus.

 

1893

Pulitzer's New York World prints the first American newspaper comic page in color

In 1980, Lee Gannon writes Sunday Comics for mixed nonet.

 

1898

Poel Paul Laurence Dunbar and novelist Alice Ruth Moore marry

In 2020, Richard Thompson writes Mask In Mirror: A Chamber Opera in Three Acts based on letters between the two from 1895-1906
 - Full Score
 - Piano-Vocal Score

 

1901

The coal mining company town Wehrum is established in Pennsylvania, marking the beginning of the full-scale exploitation of the region

In 2007, Daniel Perlongo writes Ghost Town Trail for two pianos.

 

1903

The Wright Brothers take off in airplanes for the first time at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina

In 1998, Michael Dellaira writes Campers at Kitty Hawk for mixed choir, with text adapted from John Dos Passos’s 1936 novel ‘The Big Money’, the last of his “U.S.A.” trilogy.

In 2003, Lawrence Dillon writes Wright Flight: A Symphonic Narrative for Orchestra.

 

1908

Eben Parker Low brings the Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy) culture to the World Championship Roping Competition in Wyoming

In 2021, Michael-Thomas Foumai writes Paniolo Credo for String Orchestra.

 

1914

World War I Begins

In 2020, Beth Wiemann writes Until the War is Over: A Chamber Opera in One Act after the 1960 novel Bid Me to Live by Hilda Doolittle.

 

1914

The Texas Rangers destroy the Laredo newspaper El Progreso's printing press and arrest their journalists for criticizing the occupation of Veracruz

In 2023, Gilbert Galindo writes La esperanza de la gente for String Quartet.

 

1917

The U.S. passes the Immigration Act of 1917, unrestricting Filipinos from immigrating to the US (the manong generation).

In 2020, Matthew Welch writes Tomorrow's Memories: A Little Manila Diary, Choral-Opera in One Act after the 1924-28 diary by Angeles Monrayo Raymundo.

 

1918

World War I Ends

 

1940

The Unitarian Services Committee is established in Massachusetts to offer aid to European refugees

In 2015, T.J. Anderson writes Choose Your Ancestors for mixed choir after the 2017 poem by Robert Pinsky.

 

1941

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's third inaugural address in response to rising global tensions

In 2024, Mark Zuckerman writes Our Spirit and Faith for mixed choir and piano, and Four Freedoms for mixed choir or men's choir.

 

1941

World War II Begins

Pearl Harbor is attacked by Japanese forces

In 1942, John J. Becker writes Victory March for orchestra.

In 1943, Ellis Kohs writes Automatic Pistol for men's choir using text from the 1941 Army manual The Soldier's Handbook.

In 1990, Albert Glinsky writes High Flight for Soprano or Mezzo-Soprano and Piano after the letters by John Gillespie Magee Jr.

in 2007, Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy writes High Flight for Tenor and Piano after the letters by John Gillespie Magee Jr.

 

1943

The Liberation of Italy is begun by Allied and Axis forces with the invasion of Sicily

In 1997, Sarah Meneely-Kyder writes Letter from Italy, 1944: A Soldier's Story after 1944 letters by John Meneely.
 - Full production for soloists, choir, and orchestra (2013)
 - Aria for tenor and piano (2012)
 - Letter from Italy, 1944 for baritone and string quartet (1997)

1944

The U.S. participates in the invasion of the coast of German-occupied France on June 6 (D-Day) with the Normandy landings at Utah Beach and Omaha Beach

In 2017, Richard Brooks writes Aftermath for Baritone and String Quartet after two poems by Nancy Warshaw Bogen.

 

1945

The United States detonates two atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending World War II.

In 1980, Vally Weigl writes Revelation for Medium Voice and String Quartet after the 1922 poem by Koichi Kihara.

in 1964, Elias Tanenbaum writes Hiroshima for children's choir and bands.

 

1945

World War II Ends