Chronology

1494

Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas Christopher Columbus first sights Jamaica The House of Medici expelled from Florence

1517

Publication of Martin Luther’s Theses

1534

Ignatius Loyola founds the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) Cambridge University Press given Royal Charter by Henry VIII English Reformation: Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, establishing Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church of England

1558

Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England Gioseffo Zarlino publishes Le Istitutioni Harmoniche

1577

Birth of Peter Paul Rubens

1578

Birth of Johannes Ruckers

1583

Birth of Girolamo Frescobaldi

1598

Death of Hans Ruckers Calvinists in Zürich introduce music into their services

1606

Birth of Rembrandt van Rijn Trial and execution of Guy Fawkes for Gunpowder Plot First Charter of Virginia established

1618

First performance of Claudio Monteverdi’s Orfeo Beginning of the Thirty Years’ War Publication of René Descartes’s Compendium Musicae

1643

Louis XIV becomes King of France

1688

James II escapes to France Bartolomeo Cristofori becomes keeper of Medici’s musical instruments

1701

War of Spanish Succession

1706

Publication of J.-P. Rameau’s first book of Pièces de clavecin Thomas Twining opens the first known tea room in London Birth of Benjamin Frankiln

1707

John V becomes King of Portugal George Frideric Handel meets Domenico Scarlatti

1712

Peter the Great moves Russian capital from Moscow to Saint Petersburg Birth of Frederick II of Prussia

1713

Publication of F. Couperin’s first book of Pièces de clavecin Foundation of the Académie Royale de Danse by Louis XIV Treaty of Utrecht ends War of Spanish Succession

1719

J. S. Bach travels to Berlin to pick up Michael Mietke harpsichord for Köthen Domenico Scarlatti takes up residence in Lisbon British sink the Spanish Navy

1724

Publication of J.-P. Rameau’s second book of Pièces de clavecin Founding of Longman publishing house in England Birth of Immanuel Kant

1730

Publication of F. Couperin’s fourth book of Pièces de clavecin

1734

Publication of Voltaire’s The Age of Louis XIV Lutherans expelled from Salzburg by the Roman Catholic bishop

1735

Publication of J. S. Bach’s Clavierübung, Part II (Italian Concerto and French Overture) Austria signs peace treaty with France and Spain Birth of Paul Revere

1738

Publication of D. Scarlatti’s Essercizi in London Great Britain declares war on Spain

1768

Pascal Taskin introduces the Peau de buffle to the harpsichord Royal Academy founded in London

1789

French Revolution George Washington becomes first President of the United States Mutiny on the HMS Bounty

1837

Ignaz Moscheles performs music of Scarlatti on a harpsichord in London Prussian Copyright Act established to protect composers’ rights Queen Victoria ascends the throne of England

1879

Birth of Wanda Landowska First female students admitted to study for degrees at Oxford University Births of Albert Einstein and Sir Thomas Beecham

1889

Paris Exposition Inauguration of Eiffel Tower Establishment of the Wall Street Journal in New York City Edison Records introduces first prerecorded wax cylinders of music

1908

Births of Sylvia Marlowe, Herbert von Karajan, and Milton Berle New York City passes Sullivan Ordinance, making it illegal for women to smoke in public

1911

Birth of Ralph Kirkpatrick

1952

Publication of Elliott Carter’s Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord Elizabeth II is proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom Greece and Turkey join NATO