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1920 in music

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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1920.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

  • January 19 – The Salzburg Festival is revived.
  • September 4 – City of Birmingham Orchestra (England) first rehearses (in a city police bandroom). Later this month, its first concert, conducted by Appleby Matthews, opens with Granville Bantock's overture Saul; in November it gives its "First Symphony Concert" when Edward Elgar conducts a programme of his own music in Birmingham Town Hall.
  • November 15 – First complete public performance of Gustav Holst's suite The Planets given in London by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Albert Coates.
  • December 4 – Première of the opera Die tote Stadt by 23-year-old Erich Wolfgang Korngold. It later becomes known that the librettist, "Paul Schott", is Korngold's father Julius.
  • December 30 – Pearl Hamilton (later with the Three X Sisters), plays piano with small jazz ensemble to appreciative audience at the Star Theater in New York City.
  • Mamie Smith's first blues recordings become a hit, alerting record companies to the African American market.
  • Hamilton Harty is appointed resident conductor of the Hallé Orchestra.
  • Henri Sauguet forms Groupe des Trois (the Group of Three) along with Louis Emié and Jean-Marcel Lizotte.
  • The Central Band of the Royal Air Force is formed in Britain.
  • The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra launches its Mahler festival.
  • Gabriel Fauré retires from the Paris Conservatoire, and is awarded the Grand-Croix of the Légion d'Honneur.

Publications

  • Stewart Macpherson – Melody and Harmony, Book 1. London: Stainer & Bell.

Classical music

  • Granville Bantock – Arabian Nights
  • Béla Bartók – Eight Improvisations on Peasant Songs
  • Arnold Bax – Phantasy for viola and orchestra
  • Arthur Bliss – The Tempest, overture and interludes;
    • Concerto for piano, tenor voice, strings and percussion
    • Rout (for soprano and chamber orchestra)
  • Ernest Bloch – Violin Sonata No. 1
  • Max Bruch - String Octet
  • Ferruccio Busoni – Piano Sonatina No. 6 (Fantasia da camera super Carmen),
    • Divertimento for flute and orchestra
  • Frederick Delius – Hassan
  • George Enescu – String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 22, No. 1
  • Gabriel Fauré – Masques et Bergamasques
  • Johan Halvorsen – Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2
  • Arthur Honegger – Pastorale d'été
    • Viola Sonata
    • Cello Sonata
  • Leoš Janáček – Ballad of Blanik (symphonic poem)
  • Darius Milhaud – Ballade (for piano and orchestra)
    • Le Boeuf sur le toit (ballet),
  • Francis Poulenc – Five Impromptus for Piano, Suite in C Major for Piano
  • Sergei Prokofiev – Five Songs without Words (for voice and piano)
  • Maurice Ravel – La Valse
    • Sonata for violin and cello
  • Camille Saint-Saëns - Odelette in D major Op. 162
  • Erik Satie – La Belle excentrique
  • Dmitri Shostakovich – Five Preludes for piano
  • Igor Stravinsky – Concertino for string quartet,
    • Pulcinella
    • Symphonies of Wind Instruments
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams – The Lark Ascending
    • Mass in G minor
  • Heitor Villa-Lobos – Symphony No. 5, "A paz" (Peace)

Opera

  • Vincent D'Indy – The Legend of St. Christoper
  • Clemens Freiherr von Franckenstein – Li-Tai-Pe
  • Henry Hadley – Cleopatra's Night
  • Leoš Janáček – The Excursions of Mr. Broucek on the Moon and in the 15th Century
  • Erich Korngold – Die tote Stadt
  • Ruggiero Leoncavallo – Edipo Re

[[Jazz]]

Main article: 1920 in jazz

[[Musical theatre]]

  • Afgar Broadway production opened at the Central Theatre on November 8 and ran for 168 performances
  • As You Were Broadway revue by Arthur Wimperis opened at the Central Theatre on January 27 and ran for 143 performances. Starring Sam Bernard, Irene Bordoni, Clifton Webb and Hugh Cameron.
  • The Beggar's Opera London production opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on June 5 and ran for 1,463 performances
  • Die Blaue Mazur (The Blue Mazurka) (Music by Franz Lehár), Vienna
  • George White's Scandals Of 1920 Broadway revue opened at the Globe Theatre on June 7 and ran for 134 performances
  • The Gingham Girl Broadway production (music by Albert Von Tilzer) at the Central Theatre ran for 322 performances
  • Irene London production opened at the Empire Theatre on April 7 and ran for 399 performances
  • Johnny Jones London production opened at the Alhambra Theatre on June 1 and ran for 349 performances
  • Jumble Sale London revue opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on December 16 and ran for 176 performances
  • Just Fancy London production opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on March 26 and ran for 332 performances
  • Der letzte Walzer (The Last Waltz) (Music by Oscar Straus), Berlin
  • A Little Dutch Girl opened at the Lyric Theatre on December 1 and ran for 207 performances
  • The Night Boat Broadway production opened at the Liberty Theatre on February 2 and ran for 318 performances. Jeanette MacDonald made her first Broadway appearance as a member of the chorus.
  • A Night Out London production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 18 and ran for 309 performances
  • Sally Broadway production opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on December 21 and ran for 570 performances
  • The Shop Girl London revival opened at the Gaiety Theatre on March 25 and ran for 327 performances
  • Tickle Me ( Music: Herbert P. Stothart) Broadway production opened at the Selwyn Theatre on August 17 and ran for 207 performances. Starring Louise Allen, Allen Kearns and Frank Tinney.
  • Tip Top Broadway production opened at the Globe Theatre on October 5 and ran for 241 performances
  • Ziegfeld Follies of 1920 Broadway revue opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on June 22 and ran for 123 performances, but ran most years until 1927.

Births

  • January 1
    • José Antonio Bottiroli, Argentine composer and poet (d. 1990)
    • Virgilio Savona, Italian singer and songwriter (Quartetto Cetra) (d. 2009)
    • Mahmoud Zoufonoun, Iranian-American violinist (d. 2013)
  • January 3 – Renato Carosone, Italian musician and singer (d. 2001)
  • January 5 – Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, pianist (d. 1995)
  • January 8 – Josef Josephi, Polish-born singer and actor (b. 1852)
  • January 14
    • Cris Alexander, American actor, singer, dancer, designer, and photographer (d. 2012)
    • Salvador Flores Rivera, Mexican composer and singer (d. 1987)
  • January 16 – Claude Abadie, French jazz clarinetist (died 2020)
  • January 18 – Jan Van Halen, musician, father of Eddie and Alex Van Halen (d. 1986)
  • January 24 – Hilario González, Cuban composer, pianist, musicologist, music educator, and music critic (d. 1999)
  • February 2
    • Heikki Suolahti, Finnish composer (d. 1936)
    • Yuriko Amemiya, American dancer and choreographer (d. 2022)
  • February 7 – Oscar Brand, Canadian-born American folk singer, songwriter and author (d. 2016)
  • February 12 – Yoshiko Yamaguchi, Chinese-Japanese actress and singer (d. 2014)
  • February 13
    • Boudleaux Bryant, American songwriter (d. 1987)
    • Eileen Farrell, American soprano (d. 2002)
  • February 14 – Albert J. McNeil, American choral conductor, ethnomusicologist and author (d. 2022)
  • February 18 – Rolande Falcinelli, organist, pianist and composer (d. 2006)
  • February 23 – Hall Overton, composer, jazz pianist and music teacher (d. 1972)
  • February 26 – Henri Crolla, jazz guitarist and film composer (d. 1960)
  • February 28 – Albert Elms, light music composer (d. 2009)
  • March 10 – Boris Vian, French writer, poet, singer and musician (d. 1959)
  • March 16 – John Addison, British film composer (d. 1998)
  • March 17 – John La Montaine, American composer (d. 2013)
  • March 22 – Fanny Waterman, pianist and music educator (d. 2020)
  • March 23 – Geoffrey Bush, British composer, writer and broadcaster (d. 1998)
  • April 7 – Ravi Shankar, Indian sitarist (d. 2012)
  • April 12
    • The Cox Twins, music hall entertainers (Frank, d. 2007; Fred, d. 2013)
    • Anita Ellis, Canadian-American singer and actress (d. 2015)
  • April 21 – Bruno Maderna, conductor and composer (d. 1973)
  • April 23 – Louis Barron, film composer (d. 1989)
  • April 27 – Guido Cantelli, Italian conductor (d. 1956)
  • April 29 – Harold Shapero, composer (d. 2013)
  • May 2
    • Jean-Marie Auberson, violinist and conductor (d. 2004)
    • Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson, Scottish pianist and composer (d. 1980)
  • May 4 – Ronald Chesney, harmonica player and comedy scriptwriter (d. 2018)
  • May 13 – Gareth Morris, flautist (d. 2007)
  • May 18 – Lucia Mannucci, Italian singer (Quartetto Cetra) (d. 2012)
  • May 20 – Betty Driver, British singer and actress (d. 2011)
  • May 21 – Bill Barber, jazz musician (d. 2007)
  • May 23 – Helen O'Connell, American big band singer (d. 1993)
  • May 26 – Peggy Lee, singer and songwriter (d. 2002)
  • June 6
    • Dino Asciolla, violinist (d. 1994)
    • Jan Rubeš, Czech-Canadian bass opera singer, actor (d. 2009)
    • Robert Turner, composer (d. 2012)
  • June 10 – Bonnie Davis, R&B singer (d. 1976)
  • June 11 – Hazel Scott, jazz/classical pianist and singer (d. 1981)
  • June 19 – Johnny Douglas, film composer and conductor (d. 2003)
  • June 20 – Danny Cedrone, American guitarist and bandleader (d. 1954)
  • June 25 – Ozan Marsh, American concert pianist (d. 1992)
  • June 26 – Leonid Hambro, pianist (d. 2006)
  • July 1 – Amália Rodrigues, Portuguese singer and actress (d. 1999)
  • July 13
    • Anna Halprin, American dancer (d. 2021)
    • Don Ralke, American music arranger (d. 2000)
  • July 14 – Marijohn Wilkin, American country and gospel songwriter (d. 2006)
  • July 19 – Robert Mann, American violinist (d. 2018)
  • July 20
    • Carmen Carrozza, Italian-born American accordionist (d. 2013)
    • Thanga Darlong, Indian folk musician (d. 2023)
  • July 21
    • Isaac Stern, Ukrainian-born violinist (d. 2001)
    • Manuel Valls, Spanish composer (d. 1984)
  • July 23 – Amália Rodrigues, Portuguese fado singer and actress (d. 1999)
  • July 31 – Walter Arlen, Austrian-born American composer (d. 2023)
  • August 7 – Françoise Adret, French ballet dancer, choreographer (d. 2018)
  • August 8
    • Leo Chiosso, Italian lyricist (d. 2006)
    • Jimmy Witherspoon, blues singer (d. 1997)
  • August 26 – Emil Cadkin, film composer (d. 2020)
  • August 29 – Charlie Parker, jazz musician (d. 1955)
  • September 3 – Chabuca Granda, Peruvian singer and composer (d. 1983)
  • September 7 – Al Caiola, American guitarist, composer, arranger (d. 2016)
  • September 14 – Cascarita [a.k.a. Orlando Guerra], Cuban music singer (d. 1975)
  • September 17 – Jean Perrin, composer (d. 1989)
  • September 23
    • Alexander Arutiunian, Armenian composer (d. 2012)
    • Mickey Rooney, actor and entertainer (d. 2014)
  • September 25 – Anne Triola, American actress, singer and musician (d. 2012)
  • September 27 – Alan A. Freeman, English record producer (d. 1985)
  • September 28 – Irma Baltuttis, singer and entertainer (d. 1958)
  • October 5 – Vincent DeRosa, American musician (d. 2022)
  • October 9 – Yusef Lateef, American jazz musician and composer (d. 2013)
  • October 12 – Steve Conway, British singer (d. 1952)
  • October 13 – Albert Hague, songwriter (d. 2001)
  • October 27 – Nanette Fabray, actress and singer (d. 2018)
  • October 31 – Joseph Gelineau, French composer (d. 2008)
  • November 23 – Enrico De Angelis, Italian singer and entrepreneur (d. 2018)
  • December 6 – Dave Brubeck, jazz pianist (d. 2012)
  • December 13 – Teo Usuelli, Italian film composer (d. 2009)
  • December 14 – Clark Terry, American jazz musician and composer (d. 2015)
  • December 19 – Little Jimmy Dickens, American country music singer-songwriter (d. 2015)
  • December 31 – Rex Allen, American actor, singer and songwriter (d. 1999)

Deaths

  • January 8 – Maud Powell, violinist (b. 1867; heart attack)
  • January 16 – Reginald De Koven, US music critic and composer (b. 1859)
  • January 18 – Giovanni Capurro, poet, co-writer of "O Sole Mio" (b. 1859)
  • January 21 – John Henry Maunder, composer (b. 1858)
  • January 24 – William Percy French, songwriter (b. 1854; pneumonia)
  • February 2 – Theo Marzials, singer and composer (b. 1850)
  • February 11 – Gaby Deslys, dancer and actress (b. 1881; Spanish flu)
  • February 12 – Émile Sauret, violinist and composer (b. 1852)
  • February 14 – Louis C. Elson, American music critic, writer on music, editor, journalist, composer, and professor of music theory (b. 1848)
  • February 23 – Alexander Ilyinsky, music teacher and composer (b. 1859)
  • March 20 – Eva Mylott, operatic contralto (b. 1875; domestic accident)
  • April 4 – Carl Bohm, pianist and composer (b. 1844)
  • April 8 – Charles Griffes, composer (b. 1884; Spanish flu)
  • April 19 – Mathilde Mallinger, lyric soprano (b. 1847)
  • May 6 – Hortense Schneider, operatic soprano (b. 1833)
  • May 25 – Georg Jarno, composer of operettas (b. 1868)
  • May 28 – Hardwicke Rawnsley, hymn-writer (b. 1851; heart attack)
  • June 27 – Adolphe-Basile Routhier, lyricist (b. 1839)
  • June 28 – Pauline Rita, singer and actress (b. c.1842; long illness)
  • July 17 – Dorothy Goetz, first wife of Irving Berlin (b. 1892; typhoid)
  • July 26 – Carlos Troyer, composer (b. 1837)
  • August 10 – Clara Lachmann, Danish-Swedish patron of the arts (born 1864)
  • August 13 – Carlos Hartling, German-born composer of the Honduras national anthem (b. 1869)
  • August 29 – Gustav Jenner, composer and conductor (b. 1865)
  • October 1 – Vladimir Rebikov, Russian pianist and composer (b. 1866)
  • October 2 – Max Bruch, composer (b. 1838)
  • October 16 – Alberto Nepomuceno, composer and conductor (b. 1864)
  • October 31 – Joachim Neergaard, Danish composer (born 1858)
  • November 6 – Maria Waldmann, operatic mezzo-soprano associated with Verdi (b. 1844)
  • December 14 – George J. Gaskin, singer (b. 1863)
  • December 31 – Paloke Kurti, Albanian composer (b. 1860)

References

References

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