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Reflections Reflections Classical Music Timeline: 1940s 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. 1940 Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987) completed The Comedians , op. 26 June 11 – Divertimento for string orchestra, Sz. 113 BB 118 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was first performed in Basel, Switzerland July 1 – The Sea Hawk , with film score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957), was released November 9 – Concierto de Aranjuez , for guitar and orchestra, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Barcelona, Spain November 16 – Violin Concerto in D minor by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) was first performed in Moscow, Russia December 3 – Leokadiya Kashperova (1872-1940) died in Moscow, Russia December 9 – Sextet for Piano and Winds (1939 revision), FP 100 by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was first performed in Paris, France December 26 – Symphony No. 4, Folk Song Symphony”, by Roy Harris (1898-1979) was first performed in Cleveland, Ohio 1941 January 3 – Symphonic Dances, op. 45 by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was first performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania January 10 – Frank Bridge (1879-1941) died in Eastbourne, England February 7 – Violin Concerto, op. 14 by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was first performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania April 17 – Adolphus Hailstork (1941-) was born in Rochester, New York June 21 – Masquerade Suite by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) was first performed in Moscow, Russia June 26 – Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsell (1904-1977) premiered in the film Dangerous Moonlight 1942 Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) completed Song of the Brave , for tenor and piano, op. 89, no. 2 March 5 – Symphony No. 7, Leningrad”, by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Leningrad at the time) April 16 – Second Essay for Orchestra, op. 17 by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was first performed in New York, New York June 11 – Geoffrey Toye (1889-1942) died in London, England June 18 – Paul McCartney (1942-) was born in Liverpool, England December 4 – A Ceremony of Carols , op. 28 by Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was first performed (in its final form) in London, England December 9 – Gayane , ballet by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) was first performed in Perm, Russia 1943 March 12 – Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was first performed in Cincinnati, Ohio March 28 – Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) died in Beverly Hills, California June 24 – Symphony No. 5 in D major by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) was first performed in London, England 1944 Percy Grainger (1882-1961) completed the orchestration of La Vallée des cloches (”Valley of the Bells”) from Miroirs by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) January 28 – Symphony No. 1, Jeremiah”, by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was first performed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania April 16 – Concierto de estío , for violin and orchestra, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Lisbon, Portugal May 7 – Our Town , music from the film score, by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts May 8 – Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) died in Woking, England June 7 – Gran Marcha de los Subsecretarios (Grand March of the Subsecretaries”), for piano four hands, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Madrid, Spain August – Kaljo Raid (1921-2005) completed Symphony No. 1 October 30 – Appalachian Spring , ballet by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was first performed in Washington, D.C. October 31 – Sebastian , ballet by Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007) was first performed in New York, New York December 1 – Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, BB 123 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts December 27 – Amy Beach (1867-1944) died in New York, New York December 30 – Piano Sonata No. 8 in B♭ major, op. 84 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia 1945 Suite from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss (1864-1949) was arranged by Artur Rodziński (1892-1958) January 13 – Symphony No. 5 in B♭ major, op. 100 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia April 9 – Girl No. 217 , with film score by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978), was released August 2 – Emil von Reznicek (1860-1945) died in Berlin, Germany September 15 – Anton Webern (1883-1945) died in Mittersill, Austria September 24 – John Rutter (1945-) was born in London, England September 26 – Béla Bartók (1881-1945) died in New York, New York October 12 – Symphony No. 3, H. 299 by Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts November 3 – Symphony No. 9 in E♭ major, op. 70 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia November 21 – Cinderella , ballet, op. 87 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia November 30 – Symphony No. 4, H. 305 by Bohuslav Martinů (1890-1959) was first performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania December 17 – À l’ombre de Torre Bermeja (In the Shadow of the Crimson Tower”) by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Madrid, Spain December 17 – A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map , for male chorus, brass, and drums, op. 15 by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was first performed in New York, New York 1946 Twenty-Four Preludes, op. 38 by Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987) was first performed in Moscow, Russia February 8 – Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 by Béla Bartók (1881-1945) was first performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 16 – Granville Bantock (1868-1946) died in London, England October 18 – Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland (1900-1990) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts October 23 – Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor, op. 80 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia November 14 – Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) died in Alta Gracia, Argentina November 27 – Cinco piezas infantiles (Five children’s pieces”), for orchestra, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Madrid, Spain December 6 – Maximilian Steinberg (1883-1946) died in Saint Petersburg, Russia 1947 February 15 – Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35 by Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897-1957) was first performed in St. Louis, Missouri February 15 – John Adams (1947-) was born in Worcester, Massachusetts March 5 – Alfredo Casella (1883-1947) died in Rome, Italy June 14 – Michael Mauldin (1947-) was born in Port Arthur, Texas August 20 – Concerto for Bassoon and Strings with Percussion by Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) was first performed in London, England October 23 – Starlight Roof Waltz by George Melachrino (1909-1965) was first performed in London, England November 12 – Flourish, Mighty Land , cantata for chorus and orchestra, op. 114 by Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was first performed in Moscow, Russia November 29 – The Legend of Ohrid , ballet by Stevan Hristić (1885-1958) was first performed in Belgrade, Serbia 1948 William Grant Still (1895-1978) completed Miniatures , for flute, oboe, and piano January 21 – Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari (1876-1948) died in Venice, Italy May 4 – Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts June 27 – George Templeton Strong (1856-1948) died in Geneva, Switzerland October 29 – Violin Concerto in C major, op. 48 by Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987) was first performed in Moscow, Russia October 30 – The Red Pony , suite from the film score, by...