This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1956.

Specific locations

* 1956 in British music * 1956 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

1956 in country music This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1956. Events * January 30 — Despite a 4-inch snowstorm, 17,000 fans attend a Coliseum concert in Denver, Colorado. On the bill are Webb Pierce, Red Foley, the Foggy ...

* 1956 in jazz

Events

January 3 Events Pre-1600 *AD 69, 69 – The Roman legions on the Rhine refuse to declare their allegiance to Galba, instead proclaiming their legate, Aulus Vitellius, as emperor. * 250 – Emperor Decius orders everyone in the Roman Empire (ex ...

– '' Bach: The Goldberg Variations'',

Glenn Gould Glenn Herbert Gould (; né Gold; September 25, 1932October 4, 1982) was a Canadian classical pianist. He was one of the most famous and celebrated pianists of the 20th century, and was renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard works of Johann ...

's debut solo piano recording, is released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

in the United States; it sells 40,000 copies by 1960. *

January 26 Events Pre-1600 * 661 – The Rashidun Caliphate is effectively ended with the assassination of Ali, the last caliph. *1531 – The 6.4–7.1 1531 Lisbon earthquake, Lisbon earthquake kills about thirty thousand people. *1564 – ...

**The North American premiere of

Carlos Chávez Carlos Antonio de Padua Chávez y Ramírez (13 June 1899 – 2 August 1978) was a Mexican composer, conductor, music theorist, educator, journalist, and founder and director of the Mexican Symphonic Orchestra. He was influenced by nativ ...

's Third Symphony is given by the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

conducted by the composer. **

Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas ...

's first recording sessions for

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...

take place in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. **

Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. His music was described by critics as ...

signs with

Sun Records Sun Records is an American independent record label founded by producer Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee in February 1952. Sun was the first label to record Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny C ...

. *

January 27 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – Trajan succeeds his adoptive father Nerva as Roman emperor; under his rule the Roman Empire will reach its maximum extent. * 945 – The co-emperors Stephen and Constantine are overthrown and forced to becom ...

–

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

's single "

Heartbreak Hotel "Heartbreak Hotel" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley. It was released as a single on January 27, 1956, Presley's first on his new record label RCA Victor. It was written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, with credit being ...

" / "I Was the One" is released. It goes on to be Elvis's first #1 hit. *

January 28 Events Pre-1600 * 98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. * 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession o ...

–

makes his national television debut on ''The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show''. *

February 3 Events Pre-1600 * 1112 – Ramon Berenguer III, Count of Barcelona, and Douce I, Countess of Provence, marry, uniting the fortunes of those two states. *1451 – Sultan Mehmed II inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire. *1488 – ...

– The

Symphony of the Air The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra conceived by David Sarnoff, the president of the Radio Corporation of America, especially for the conductor Arturo Toscanini. The NBC Symphony performed weekly radio concert broadcasts with Tosc ...

, conducted by

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

, gives the world première of

Robert Moevs Robert Walter Moevs (2 December 1920 – 10 December 2007) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. He was known for his highly chromatic music. Career Moevs was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and served in the United States Army ...

's Fourteen Variations for Orchestra (composed in 1952) in New York. *

February 11 Events Pre-1600 *660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. * 55 – The death under mysterious circumstances of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman empire, on the eve of his coming ...

– Henry Barraud's Concertino for Piano and Winds receives its world-première performance by

Eugene List Eugene List (July 6, 1918March 1, 1985) was an American concert pianist and teacher. Early life Eugene List was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent his formative years in Los Angeles, where his father Louis List (originally Lisnitzer) ...

and members of the New York Chamber Ensemble in New York City. *March –

The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and " Young Blood" in 1957, their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing ...

' recording career begins, with "Turtle Dovin'". *

March 10 Events Pre-1600 * 241 BC – First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates: The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing the First Punic War to an end. * 298 – Roman Emperor Maximian concludes his campaign in North Africa and makes a ...

–

Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...

' single "

Blue Suede Shoes "Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by American singer, songwriter and guitarist Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues, country and po ...

" enters the R&B charts, the first time a country music artist has made it on the R&B charts. *

March 21 Events Pre-1600 * 537 – Siege of Rome: King Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern city walls, but is repulsed at the Praenestine Gate, known as the ''Vivarium'', by the defenders under the Byzantine generals Bessas an ...

– World première of

Heitor Villa-Lobos Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". Villa-Lobos has become the ...

's Eleventh Symphony, by the

Boston Symphony Orchestra The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the second-oldest of the five major American symphony orchestras commonly referred to as the " Big Five". Founded by Henry Lee Higginson in 1881, ...

, conducted by

Charles Münch Charles Munch (; born Charles Münch, 26 September 1891 – 6 November 1968) was an Alsatian French symphonic conductor and violinist. Noted for his mastery of the French orchestral repertoire, he was best known as music director of the Boston ...

, at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

in New York City. *

March 22 Events Pre-1600 * 106 – Start of the Bostran era, the calendar of the province of Arabia Petraea. * 235 – Roman emperor Severus Alexander is murdered, marking the start of the Crisis of the Third Century. * 871 – Æthelr ...

–

is injured in a car accident near Wilmington, Delaware, on his way to New York City to make an appearance on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television program, television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in Septembe ...

''. He spends several months in hospital. *

March 24 Events Pre-1600 * 1199 – King Richard I of England is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting in France, leading to his death on April 6. *1387 – English victory over a Franco- Castilian-Flemish fleet in the Battle of Margate off ...

– The first regularly scheduled nationally broadcast rock & roll show, ''Rock 'n Roll Dance Party'', with

Alan Freed Albert James "Alan" Freed (December 15, 1921 – January 20, 1965) was an American disc jockey. He also produced and promoted large traveling concerts with various acts, helping to spread the importance of rock and roll music throughout Nor ...

as host, premières on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

Radio Network. *

March 26 Events Pre-1600 * 590 – Emperor Maurice proclaims his son Theodosius as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. *1021 – On the feast of Eid al-Adha, the death of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, kept secret for six weeks, ...

–

Colonel Tom Parker Thomas Andrew Parker (born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk; June 26, 1909 January 21, 1997),

formally becomes

's manager. *

March 31 Events Pre-1600 * 307 – After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine the Great, Constantine marries Fausta, daughter of the retired Roman emperor Maximian. *1146 – Bernard of Clairvaux preaches his famous sermon in a field at V� ...

–

films a screen test for

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

. *

April 3 Events Pre-1600 * 686 – Maya king Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ahk' assumes the crown of Calakmul. *1043 – Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. *1077 – The Patriarchate of Friûl, the first Friulian state, is created. * ...

–

makes his first appearance on ''The

Milton Berle Milton Berle (born Mendel Berlinger; ; July 12, 1908 – March 27, 2002) was an American actor and comedian. His career as an entertainer spanned over 80 years, first in silent films and on stage as a child actor, then in radio, movies and tel ...

Show''. *

April 6 Events Pre–1600 *46 BC – Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Younger) at the Battle of Thapsus. * 402 – Stilicho defeats the Visigoths under Alaric in the Battle of Pollentia. *13 ...

–

signs

to a three-picture deal. *

April 10 Events Pre-1600 * 428 – Nestorius becomes the Patriarch of Constantinople. * 837 – Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance equal to 0.0342 AU (5.1 million kilometres/3.2 million miles). * 1407 ...

– A group of racial segregationists (followers of

Asa Earl Carter Asa Earl Carter (September 4, 1925 – June 7, 1979) was a 1950s segregationist speech writer, and later Western novelist. He co-wrote George Wallace's well-known pro- segregation line of 1963, "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregati ...

) rush the stage at a

Nat King Cole Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

concert in

Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...

, but are quickly captured. *

April 22 Events Pre-1600 * 1500 – Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral lands in Brazil. * 1519 – Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés establishes a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico. * 1529 – Treaty of Zaragoza divides the eastern ...

–

The 2i's Coffee Bar The 2i's Coffee Bar was a coffeehouse at 59 Old Compton Street in Soho, London, that was open from 1956 to 1970. It played a formative role in the emergence of Britain's skiffle and rock and roll music culture in the late 1950s, and several maj ...

opens in

Old Compton Street Old Compton Street is a road that runs east–west through Soho in the West End of London. History The street was named after Henry Compton who raised funds for a local parish church, eventually dedicated as St Anne's Church in 1686. Th ...

Soho Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was develop ...

, London; its basement rapidly becomes a pioneering venue for rock & roll music in Britain,

Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele reco ...

being resident from July. *May – ''

Gene Autry's Melody Ranch ''Gene Autry's Melody Ranch'' is a Western variety radio show in the United States. A 15-minute pilot show aired on December 31, 1939. The program ran from January 7, 1940 to August 1, 1943, and from September 23, 1945 to May 16, 1956.French, Jack ...

'', a CBS Radio Sunday evening program on the air since 1940 (except for a hiatus from 1942 to 1945), ends its run. *

May 2 Events Pre-1600 * 1194 – King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. * 1230 – William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. * 1536 – Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, is arrested and impris ...

– For the first time in ''Billboard'' magazine history, five singles appear in both the pop and R&B Top Ten charts. They are

's "Heartbreak Hotel" (#1 pop, #6 R&B),

' "Blue Suede Shoes" (#4 pop, #3 R&B),

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the " ...

's "Long Tall Sally" (#9 pop, #1 R&B),

the Platters The Platters was an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The ac ...

' " (You've Got) The Magic Touch" (#10 pop, #7 R&B) and

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers The Teenagers are an American music group, most noted for being one of rock music's earliest successes, presented to international audiences by DJ Alan Freed. The group, which made its most popular recordings with young Frankie Lymon as lead s ...

' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" (#7 pop, #4 R&B). Presley's and Perkins' singles also appeared on the

country and western A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

Top Ten chart at #1 and #2 respectively. *

May 6 Events Pre-1600 * 1527 – Spanish and German troops sack Rome; many scholars consider this the end of the Renaissance. * 1536 – The Siege of Cuzco commences, in which Incan forces attempt to retake the city of Cuzco from the Sp ...

appears on the ''

show''. **In Paris,

records his ''Bachiana Brasileira No. 9'' with the strings of the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, for

EMI EMI Group Limited (originally an initialism for Electric and Musical Industries, also referred to as EMI Records Ltd. or simply EMI) was a British Transnational corporation, transnational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in March 1 ...

. *

–28 – In Paris,

supervises the recording of his ''

Bachianas Brasileiras The ''Bachianas Brasileiras'' () (an approximate English translation might be ''Bach-inspired Brazilian pieces'') are a series of nine suites by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, written for various combinations of instruments and voic ...

No. 6'' by Fernand Dufrene (flute) and René Plessier (bassoon) and his ''Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2'' with the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, the four suites of his ''Descobrimento do Brasil'', his ''

Chôros No. 10 ''Chôros No. 10'' ("Rasga o Coração") is a work for chorus and orchestra written in 1926 by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. It is part of a series of fourteen numbered compositions collectively titled ''Chôros'', ranging from sol ...

'' and his ''Invocação em defesa da patria'', with Maria Kareska (soprano), the Chorale des , and the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française for

. * May 8 **

Ernst Toch Ernst Toch (; 7 December 1887 – 1 October 1964) was an Austrian composer of classical music and film scores. He sought throughout his life to introduce new approaches to music. Biography Toch was born in Leopoldstadt, Vienna, into the family ...

's Third Symphony is awarded the

Pulitzer Prize for Music The Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of seven Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually in Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first given in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year, and this was eventually converted ...

. **

Benjamin Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

's opera ''

Gloriana ''Gloriana'', Op. 53, is an opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten to an English libretto by William Plomer, based on Lytton Strachey's 1928 ''Elizabeth and Essex: A Tragic History''. The first performance was presented at the Royal Opera Ho ...

'' is given its US premiere in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, in concert form conducted by

Josef Krips Josef Alois Krips (8 April 1902 – 13 October 1974) was an Austrian conductor and violinist. Life and career Krips was born in Vienna. His father was Josef Jakob Krips, a medical doctor and amateur singer, and his mother was Aloisia, née Seit ...

. *

May 24 Events Pre-1600 * 919 – The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom. * 1218 – The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. * 1276 – Magnus La ...

– First-ever

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), sometimes abbreviated to ESC and often known simply as Eurovision, is an international songwriting competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), featuring participants representing pr ...

from the Kursaal Theatre,

Lugano Lugano (, , ; lmo, label=Ticinese dialect, Ticinese, Lugan ) is a city and municipality in Switzerland, part of the Lugano District in the canton of Ticino. It is the largest city of both Ticino and the Italian-speaking southern Switzerland. Luga ...

, Switzerland. Seven countries participate, each with two songs.

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

is declared the winner, with

Lys Assia Lys Assia (born Rosa Mina Schärer; 3 March 1924 – 24 March 2018) was a Swiss singer who won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Assia was born in Rupperswil, Aargau, and began her stage career as a dancer, but changed to singing in 1940 ...

singing "

Refrain A refrain (from Vulgar Latin ''refringere'', "to repeat", and later from Old French ''refraindre'') is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in poetry — the "chorus" of a song. Poetic fixed forms that feature refrains include the vi ...

". *June – The winners of the

Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition The Queen Elisabeth Competition ( nl, Koningin Elisabethwedstrijd, french: Concours musical international Reine Élisabeth) is an international competition for career-starting musicians held in Brussels. The competition is named after Queen ...

, held in

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

and devoted this year to the

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

, are: **First Prize:

Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович Ашкена́зи, ''Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazi''; born 6 July 1937) is an internationally recognized solo pianist, chamber music performer, and conductor. He ...

**Second Prize:

John Browning John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designer who developed many varieties of military and civilian firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms many of which are still in use around the world. He m ...

**Third Prize: Andrzej Czajkowski **Fourth Prize:

Cécile Ousset Cécile Ousset (born 23 January 1936) is a French pianist. Cécile Ousset was born in Tarbes, France, and gave her first recital at the age of five, subsequently studying at the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 10 with Marcel Ciampi (who had fo ...

**Fifth Prize:

Lazar Berman Lazar Naumovich Berman (russian: Ла́зарь Нау́мович Бе́рман, ''Lazarʹ Naumovič Berman''; February 26, 1930February 6, 2005) was a Soviet Russian classical pianist, Honoured Artist of the RSFSR (1988). He was hailed for a h ...

June 3 Events Pre-1600 * 350 – The Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman emperor, entering Rome at the head of a group of gladiators. * 713 – The Byzantine emperor Philippicus is blinded, depos ...

– Fred Diodati replaces

Al Alberts Al Alberts (born Al Albertini, August 10, 1922 – November 27, 2009) was an American popular singer and composer. Biography Born Al Albertini in Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, he went to South Philadelphia High School. As a teenager, h ...

as lead singer of

The Four Aces The Four Aces are an American male traditional pop quartet popular since the 1950s. Over the last half-century, the group amassed many gold records. Its million-selling songs include " Love is a Many-Splendored Thing", " Three Coins in the Fou ...

. *

June 5 Events Pre-1600 *1257 – Kraków, in Poland, receives city rights. *1283 – Battle of the Gulf of Naples: Roger of Lauria, admiral to King Peter III of Aragon, destroys the Neapolitan fleet and captures Charles II of Naples, Charles ...

–

introduces his new single, " Hound Dog", on ''

The Milton Berle Show ''Texaco Star Theater'' was an American comedy-variety show, broadcast on radio from 1938 to 1949 and telecast from 1948 to 1956. It was one of the first successful examples of American television broadcasting, remembered as the show that gave Mi ...

'', scandalizing the audience with his suggestive hip movements. *

June 7 Events Pre-1600 * 421 – Emperor Theodosius II marries Aelia Eudocia at Istanbul, Constantinople (Byzantine Empire). * 879 – Pope John VIII recognizes the Duchy of Croatia under Duke Branimir of Croatia, Branimir as an independent ...

–13 – In Paris,

records his ''Bachiana Brasileira No. 5'' with

Victoria de los Ángeles Victoria de los Ángeles López García (1 November 192315 January 2005) was a Catalan Spanish operatic lyric soprano and recitalist whose career began after the Second World War and reached its height in the years from the mid-1950s to the mid- ...

(soprano) and a cello ensemble from the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, for

. *

June 13 Events Pre-1600 * 313 – The decisions of the Edict of Milan, signed by Constantine the Great and co-emperor Valerius Licinius, granting religious freedom throughout the Roman Empire, are published in Nicomedia. * 1325 – Ibn Battuta ...

–

Herbert von Karajan Herbert von Karajan (; born Heribert Ritter von Karajan; 5 April 1908 – 16 July 1989) was an Austrian conductor. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 34 years. During the Nazi era, he debuted at the Salzburg Festival, wit ...

is announced as the new artistic director of the

Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera (, ) is an opera house and opera company based in Vienna, Austria. The 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival venue was the first major building on the Vienna Ring Road. It was built from 1861 to 1869 following plans by August S ...

, to succeed

Karl Böhm Karl August Leopold Böhm (28 August 1894 – 14 August 1981) was an Austrian conductor. He was best known for his performances of the music of Mozart, Wagner, and Richard Strauss. Life and career Education Karl Böhm was born in Graz. T ...

starting in September. *July – At the Berkshire Festival,

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

records both the Clarinet Concerto (with the

, conducted by

) and the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings (with the Boston Symphony String Quartet) by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

, for

RCA Victor RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also Aris ...

. The recordings are made in stereo, though first released in 1957 only in a monaural mixdown (the first stereo issue is in 1968). * July 9 –

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 198 ...

hosts ''

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'', abbreviated ''AB'', is an American music-performance and dance television program that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989, and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as the pro ...

'' for the first time *

July 11 Events Pre-1600 * 472 – After being besieged in Rome by his own generals, Western Roman Emperor Anthemius is captured in St. Peter's Basilica and put to death. * 813 – Byzantine emperor Michael I, under threat by conspiracies, ...

–22 – The

Darmstädter Ferienkurse Darmstädter Ferienkurse ("Darmstadt Summer Course") is a regular summer event of contemporary classical music in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany. It was founded in 1946, under the name "Ferienkurse für Internationale Neue Musik Darmstadt" (Vacation Cou ...

are held in

Darmstadt Darmstadt () is a city in the States of Germany, state of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Frankfurt Rhine Main Area, Rhine-Main-Area (Frankfurt Metropolitan Region). Darmstadt has around 160,000 inhabitants, making it th ...

with a series of lectures by

Theodor W. Adorno Theodor W. Adorno ( , ; born Theodor Ludwig Wiesengrund; 11 September 1903 – 6 August 1969) was a German philosopher, sociologist, psychologist, musicologist, and composer. He was a leading member of the Frankfurt School of criti ...

, two public discussions of the new medium of

electronic music Electronic music is a genre of music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments, or circuitry-based music technology in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means ( electroac ...

, and world premieres of works by (amongst others)

Richard Rodney Bennett Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (29 March 193624 December 2012) was an English composer of film, TV and concert music, and also a jazz pianist and occasional vocalist. He was based in New York City from 1979 until his death there in 2012.Zachary Woo ...

Pierre Boulez Pierre Louis Joseph Boulez (; 26 March 1925 – 5 January 2016) was a French composer, conductor and writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. He was one of the dominant figures of post-war Western classical music. Born in Mont ...

, Jacques Calonne,

Aldo Clementi Aldo Clementi (25 May 1925 – 3 March 2011) was an Italian classical composer. Life Aldo Clementi was born in Catania, Italy. He studied the piano, graduating in 1946 at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. His studies in composition began i ...

Luc Ferrari Luc Ferrari (February 5, 1929 – August 22, 2005) was a French composer of Italian heritage and a pioneer in musique concrète and electroacoustic music. He was a founding member of RTF's Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRMC), working alongsid ...

, Alexander Goehr,

Bengt Hambraeus Bengt Hambraeus ( Stockholm, Sweden, January 29, 1928 – Glen Roy, Ontario, (in Glengarry County), near Montreal, Quebec, Canada, September 21, 2000) was a Swedish-Canadian organist, composer and musicologist. Biography Hambreaus studied organ ...

Hans Werner Henze Hans Werner Henze (1 July 1926 – 27 October 2012) was a German composer. His large oeuvre of works is extremely varied in style, having been influenced by serialism, atonality, Stravinsky, Italian music, Arabic music and jazz, as well as t ...

Bruno Maderna Bruno Maderna (21 April 1920 – 13 November 1973) was an Italian conductor and composer. Life Maderna was born Bruno Grossato in Venice but later decided to take the name of his mother, Caterina Carolina Maderna.Interview with Maderna‘s th ...

Henri Pousseur Henri Léon Marie-Thérèse Pousseur (23 June 1929 – 6 March 2009) was a Belgian classical composer, teacher, and music theorist. Biography Pousseur was born in Malmedy and studied at the Academies of Music in Liège and in Brussels from 1947 to ...

, and

Karlheinz Stockhausen Karlheinz Stockhausen (; 22 August 1928 – 5 December 2007) was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. He is known for his groun ...

. *

July 17 Events Pre-1600 * 180 – Twelve inhabitants of Scillium (near Kasserine, modern-day Tunisia) in North Africa are executed for being Christians. This is the earliest record of Christianity in that part of the world. * 1048 – Damas ...

– The

Metropolitan Opera Association The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...

announces the cancellation of its 1956–57 season because of a labor dispute. *

July 19 Events Pre-1600 *AD 64 – The Great Fire of Rome causes widespread devastation and rages on for six days, destroying half of the city. * 484 – Leontius, Roman usurper, is crowned Eastern emperor at Tarsus (modern Turkey). He is re ...

– The

American Guild of Musical Artists The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) is the labor union of singers, dancers, and staging staff in opera, ballet and concert dance, and concert choral performance in the United States. A national union with a membership of over 6,000 arti ...

and the Metropolitan Opera Association announce a resolution of their dispute, so that the season will begin on October 29 as originally planned. *

July 22 Events Pre-1600 * 838 – Battle of Anzen: The Byzantine emperor Theophilos suffers a heavy defeat by the Abbasids. *1099 – First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of J ...

– The first

UK Albums Chart The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...

is published, in ''

Record Mirror ''Record Mirror'' was a British weekly music newspaper between 1954 and 1991 for pop fans and record collectors. Launched two years after the ''NME'', it never attained the circulation of its rival. The first UK album chart was published in ''Re ...

'';

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

's ''

Songs for Swingin' Lovers! ''Songs for Swingin' Lovers!'' is the tenth album by American singer Frank Sinatra and his fourth for Capitol Records. It was arranged by Nelson Riddle and released in March 1956 on LP and January 1987 on CD. It was the first album ever to top ...

'' tops it for the first two weeks. *Summer –

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...

forms a

skiffle Skiffle is a genre of folk music with influences from American folk music, blues, country, bluegrass, and jazz, generally performed with a mixture of manufactured and homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a form in the United State ...

group,

The Quarrymen The Quarrymen (also written as "the Quarry Men") are a British skiffle/rock and roll group, formed by John Lennon in Liverpool in 1956, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Originally consisting of Lennon and several schoolfriends, the Quar ...

, with friends from Quarry Bank High School in

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

, England, originally

Eric Griffiths Eric Ronald Griffiths (31 October 1940 – 29 January 2005) was an English musician and dry cleaner, he was best known as the guitarist in the original lineup of the Quarrymen until he left the group in the summer of 1958. Early life Born i ...

and

Pete Shotton Peter Shotton (4 August 1941 – 24 March 2017) was an English businessman and former washboard player. He is known for his long friendship with John Lennon of The Beatles. He was a member of The Quarrymen, the precursor of the Beatles, and r ...

. *August–September –

Maria Callas Maria Callas . (born Sophie Cecilia Kalos; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her ''bel cant ...

makes studio recordings of

Giuseppe Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

's, ''

Il trovatore ''Il trovatore'' ('The Troubadour') is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play ''El trovador'' (1836) by Antonio García Gutiérrez. It was García Gutiérrez's mos ...

'', conducted by

Giacomo Puccini Giacomo Puccini (Lucca, 22 December 1858Bruxelles, 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. Regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi, he was descended from a long li ...

's, ''

La bohème ''La bohème'' (; ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions ''quadri'', ''tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe G ...

'', conducted by Antonino Votto, and

's, ''

Un ballo in maschera ''Un ballo in maschera'' ''(A Masked Ball)'' is an 1859 opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The text, by Antonio Somma, was based on Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's 1833 five act opera, '' Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué''. The ...

'', also conducted by Votto, for

. *

September 5 Events Pre-1600 * 917 – Liu Yan declares himself emperor, establishing the Southern Han state in southern China, at his capital of Panyu. *1367 – Swa Saw Ke becomes king of Ava *1590 – Alexander Farnese's army forces Henry ...

– The posthumous world première of

Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''., group=n (27 April .S. 15 April1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, p ...

's Piano Concerto No. 4 (for the left hand), composed in 1931, takes place in Berlin, performed by

Siegfried Rapp Siegfried Rapp (1915 - 1982) was a German pianist who lost his right arm during World War II and then focused on the left-hand repertoire. He is now mainly remembered for being the first to perform Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 4 for the Left Ha ...

and the West Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by

Martin Rich Martin Rich (October 8, 1905October 23, 2000) was a German opera and symphonic conductor. Rich played the piano from the age of 5. He studied in Berlin under Franz Schreker. He conducted at venues in Bologna in Italy, and Grant Park, in Ill ...

. *

September 9 Events Pre-1600 * 337 – Constantine II, Constantius II, and Constans succeed their father Constantine I as co-emperors. The Roman Empire is divided between the three Augusti. *1000 – Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. * 1141 – ...

–

appears on ''

''. *

October 10 Events Pre-1600 * 680 – The Battle of Karbala marks the Martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali. * 732 – Charles Martel's forces defeat an Umayyad army near Tours, France. *1471 – Sten Sture the Elder, the Regent of Sweden, with ...

–20 – First

Warsaw Autumn Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officiall ...

International Festival of Contemporary Music. *

October 14 Events Pre-1600 * 1066 – The Norman conquest of England begins with the Battle of Hastings. * 1322 – Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeats King Edward II of England at the Battle of Old Byland, forcing Edward to accept Scotland's ...

–

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appeara ...

conducts the

in three world premièees at

Charles Ives Charles Edward Ives (; October 20, 1874May 19, 1954) was an American modernist composer, one of the first American composers of international renown. His music was largely ignored during his early career, and many of his works went unperformed f ...

's ''Browning Overture'',

Alan Hovhaness Alan Hovhaness (; March 8, 1911 – June 21, 2000) was an American- Armenian composer. He was one of the most prolific 20th-century composers, with his official catalog comprising 67 numbered symphonies (surviving manuscripts indicate over 70) a ...

's Symphony No. 3, and Kurt Leimer's Piano Concerto No. 4. *

October 16 Events Pre-1600 * 456 – Ricimer defeats Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the Western Roman Empire. * 690 – Empress Wu Zetian ascends to the throne of the Tang dynasty and proclaims herself ruler of the Chinese Empire. * ...

– The

New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...

announces that, at the request of their music director,

Dimitri Mitropoulos Dimitri Mitropoulos ( el, Δημήτρης Μητρόπουλος; The dates 18 February 1896 and 1 March 1896 both appear in the literature. Many of Mitropoulos's early interviews and program notes gave 18 February. In his later interviews, howe ...

, they have engaged

to share the direction of the orchestra with Mitropoulos for the 1957–58 season. *

October 20 Events Pre-1600 *1568 – The Spanish Duke of Alba defeats a Dutch rebel force under William the Silent. * 1572 – Eighty Years' War: Three thousand Spanish soldiers wade through fifteen miles of water in one night to effect the rel ...

–21 – The

Donaueschinger Musiktage The Donaueschingen Festival (german: Donaueschinger Musiktage, links=no) is a festival for new music that takes place every October in the small town of Donaueschingen in south-western Germany. Founded in 1921, it is considered the oldest festiv ...

new-music festival takes place with a memorial concert featuring the music of

Arthur Honegger Arthur Honegger (; 10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. A member of Les Six, his best known work is probably ''Antigone'', composed between 1924 and 1927 to ...

, and also concerts with compositions of (amongst others)

Luciano Berio Luciano Berio (24 October 1925 – 27 May 2003) was an Italian composer noted for his experimental work (in particular his 1968 composition ''Sinfonia'' and his series of virtuosic solo pieces titled ''Sequenza''), and for his pioneering work ...

Claude Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

Gottfried von Einem Gottfried von Einem (24 January 1918 – 12 July 1996) was an Austrian composer. He is known chiefly for his operas influenced by the music of Stravinsky and Prokofiev, as well as by jazz. He also composed pieces for piano, violin and organ. Biog ...

Roman Haubenstock-Ramati Roman Haubenstock-Ramati ( he, רוֹמן האובּנשׁטוֹק-רָמָתִי; 27 February 1919 – 3 March 1994) was a composer and music editor who worked in Kraków, Tel Aviv and Vienna. Life Haubenstock-Ramati was born in Kraków. He stud ...

Maurice Jarre Maurice-Alexis Jarre (; 13 September 1924 – 28 March 2009)allmusic Biography/ref> was a French composer and conductor. Although he composed several concert works, Jarre is best known for his film scores, particularly for his collaborations with ...

Olivier Messiaen Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonically ...

, and

Igor Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (6 April 1971) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor, later of French (from 1934) and American (from 1945) citizenship. He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of the ...

October 22 Events Pre-1600 * 451 – The Chalcedonian Creed, regarding the divine and human nature of Jesus, is adopted by the Council of Chalcedon, an ecumenical council. * 794 – Emperor Kanmu relocates the Japanese capital to Heian-kyō (no ...

–

Sigurd Rascher Sigurd ( non, Sigurðr ) or Siegfried (Middle High German: ''Sîvrit'') is a legendary hero of Germanic heroic legend, who killed a dragon and was later murdered. It is possible he was inspired by one or more figures from the Frankish Meroving ...

and the

Chattanooga Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, ...

Symphony Orchestra open their 1956–57 season with a concert including the world première of Carl Anton Wirth's ''Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra''. *

October 29 Events Pre-1600 * 312 – Constantine the Great enters Rome after his victory at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, stages a grand '' adventus'' in the city, and is met with popular jubilation. Maxentius' body is fished out of the Tiber ...

– In New York, the Metropolitan Opera's seventy-second season opens with a revival of Bellini's ''

Norma Norma may refer to: * Norma (given name), a given name (including a list of people with the name) Astronomy *Norma (constellation) * 555 Norma, a minor asteroid *Cygnus Arm or Norma Arm, a spiral arm in the Milky Way galaxy Geography *Norma, Lazi ...

'', made especially for

's Metropolitan debut in the title role. *

November 5 Events Pre-1600 * 1138 – Lý Anh Tông is enthroned as emperor of Vietnam at the age of two, beginning a 37-year reign. * 1499 – The '' Catholicon'', written in 1464 by Jehan Lagadeuc in Tréguier, is published; this is the first Br ...

becomes the first major black performer to host a variety show on national television, when ''

The Nat King Cole Show Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. Cole's music career began after he dropped out of school at the age of 15, and continued f ...

'' is broadcast. **Royal Performance in the presence of Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

of the United Kingdom, by

Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordi ...

, in London. *

November 13 Events Pre-1600 * 1002 – English king Æthelred II orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St. Brice's Day massacre. *1093 – Battle of Alnwick: in an English victory over the Scots, Malcolm III of Scotla ...

– The first of a series of Hoffnung Music Festival Concerts takes place at the

Royal Festival Hall The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I l ...

, in London. *

November 28 Events Pre-1600 * 587 – Treaty of Andelot The Treaty of Andelot (or Pact of Andelot) was signed at Andelot-Blancheville in 587 between King Guntram of Burgundy and Queen Brunhilda of Austrasia. Based on the terms of the accord, Brun ...

–

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up i ...

, recently divorced from Japanese composer

Toshi Ichiyanagi was a Japanese avant-garde composer and pianist. One of the leading composers in Japan during the postwar era, Ichiyanagi worked in a range of genres, composing Western-style operas and orchestral and chamber works, as well as compositions using ...

, marries Anthony Cox. *

December 4 Events Pre-1600 * 771 – Austrasian king Carloman I dies, leaving his brother Charlemagne as sole king of the Frankish Kingdom. * 963 – The lay papal protonotary is elected pope and takes the name Leo VIII, being consecrated on 6 ...

–

, Jerry Lee Lewis,

and Johnny Cash record together at Sun Records, Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The sessions are later released under the name "the Million Dollar Quartet" *December 19 – Breaking the record for the highest number of concurrent singles by a single artist,

holds 9 positions on the Billboard magazine, Billboard Hot 100 chart. Presley would hold the record until 1964 when the The Beatles, Beatles hold 14 positions on the chart. *Pierre Gabaye wins the Prix de Rome in the Musical Composition category. *Gene Vincent signs a publishing contract with Bill Lowery (record producer), Bill Lowery. *Dalida's musical career begins on Barclay Records in Europe as (one of) the first biggest "world pop star" and sex symbol and she is the first artist to have her photo on a single in France. 175 000 copies of her big hits "Bambino" are sold in a few weeks. *Chrysler Corporation provides an in-car turntable 16 rpm record player with 7-inch ultramicrogroove records in its luxury make, the Imperial (automobile), Imperial. The machine was developed by Peter Carl Goldmark – the man who invented the 33 rpm long playing (LP) record format. *Cameo-Parkway Records is formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe. *Foundation of the Korean piano brand Young Chang. *Cleveland television station WEWS-TV launches ''Polka Varieties'', a regular Sunday-afternoon, hour-long program devoted to Polka, polka music; Frank Yankovic leads the original band to perform on the show.

Albums released

* ''The Ames Brothers'' – Ames Brothers * ''Ames Brothers Concert'' – The Ames Brothers * ''The Ames Brothers With Hugo Winterhalter'' – The Ames Brothers and Hugo Winterhalter * ''Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings'' – Bing Crosby * ''Black Coffee (Peggy Lee album), Black Coffee'' – Peggy Lee * ''Bluejean Bop!'' – Gene Vincent * ''Blue Rose (album), Blue Rose'' – Rosemary Clooney * ''The Boss of the Blues'' – Big Joe Turner * ''Calendar Girl (Julie London album), Calendar Girl'' – Julie London * ''Calypso (album), Calypso'' – Harry Belafonte, first LP to sell over a million copies * ''The Champ (Jimmy Smith album), The Champ'' – Jimmy Smith (musician), Jimmy Smith * ''Charles Aznavour chante Charles Aznavour, vol. 3'' – Charles Aznavour * ''Chet Baker Sings'' – Chet Baker * ''Chris Connor (album), Chris Connor'' – Chris Connor * ''Clifford Brown and Max Roach at Basin Street'' – Clifford Brown and Max Roach * ''The Complete Porgy and Bess'' – Original Broadway Cast * ''Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings'' – Joe Williams (jazz singer), Joe Williams * ''Day by Day (Doris Day album), Day by Day'' – Doris Day * ''Dinner in Colombia'' – Aldemaro Romero * ''Dinner Music for People Who Aren't Very Hungry'' – Spike Jones * ''Django (album), Django'' – Modern Jazz Quartet * ''Do You Remember When?'' – McGuire Sisters * ''The East Side'' – Patti Page * ''Ella and Louis'' – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong * ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook'' – Ella Fitzgerald * ''Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook'' – Ella Fitzgerald * ''Ellington at Newport'' – Duke Ellington * ''Elvis (1956 album), Elvis'' –

* ''Elvis Presley (album), Elvis Presley'' – Elvis Presley (debut) * ''Exactly Like You (album), Exactly Like You'' – The Ames Brothers * ''Favorite Cowboy Songs'' – Sons of the Pioneers * ''Finger Style Guitar'' – Chet Atkins * ''Flight to Romance'' – Aldemaro Romero * ''Fontessa'' – Modern Jazz Quartet * ''The Four Aces'' –

* ''Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color'' –

* ''Frankie Laine & The Four Lads'' – Frankie Laine * ''A Girl Named Jo'' – Jo Stafford * ''The Hi-Fi Nightingale'' – Caterina Valente * ''High Society (soundtrack), High Society'' – Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong & Celeste Holm * ''Holding Hands at Midnight'' – Dinah Shore * ''Howdy!'' – Pat Boone * ''Improvisations (Stéphane Grappelli album), Improvisations'' – Stéphane Grappelli * ''In the Land of Hi-Fi (Patti Page album), In the Land of Hi-Fi'' – Patti Page * ''Informal Jazz'' – Elmo Hope * ''Kay Starr Country'' – Kay Starr * ''The Lark in the Morning (album), The Lark in the Morning'' – Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem * ''Latin Kick'' – Cal Tjader * ''Lawrence Welk Plays Dixieland'' – Lawrence Welk * ''Lennie Tristano (album), Lennie Tristano'' – Lennie Tristano * ''Listen To The Hi-Lo's'' – The Hi-Lo's * ''Lonely Girl (album), Lonely Girl'' – Julie London * ''Love Songs Sung'' – Dinah Shore * ''Love's Old Sweet Song'' – The Ames Brothers * ''Lullaby Time'' – Bing Crosby * ''Manhattan Tower (Patti Page album), Manhattan Tower'' – Patti Page * ''Max Roach + 4'' – Max Roach * ''Merry Christmas'' – Lawrence Welk * ''Miles Davis Volume 1'' – Miles Davis * ''Miles Davis Volume 2'' – Miles Davis * ''Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet'' – Miles Davis * ''Miles Davis with Horns'' – Miles Davis * ''The Misty Miss Christy'' – June Christy * ''Moondog (1956 album), Moondog'' – Moondog * ''Music and Memories'' – Georgia Gibbs *''Music for Two in Love'' – Patti Page * ''My Fair Lady (Shelly Manne album), My Fair Lady'' – Shelly Manne & His Friends * ''New Jazz Conceptions'' – Bill Evans * ''Nursery Days'' – Woody Guthrie * ''Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues'' – Odetta * ''On Hand'' – The Hi-Lo's * ''On the Sunny Side (The Four Lads album), On the Sunny Side'' – The Four Lads * ''Page Three – Easy Listening'' – Patti Page * ''Pat Boone'' – Pat Boone * ''Pick a Polka'' – Lawrence Welk * ''Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day'' – Anita O'Day * ''Pithecanthropus Erectus (album), Pithecanthropus Erectus'' – Charles Mingus * ''The Platters'' – The Platters * ''Playboys (Chet Baker & Art Pepper album), Playboys'' – Chet Baker and Art Pepper * ''Rock 'n' Roll Stage Show'' – Bill Haley & His Comets * ''Rock, Rock, Rock (soundtrack), Rock, Rock, Rock'' – Various Artists * ''Say It with Music'' – Lawrence Welk * ''Shillelaghs and Shamrocks'' – Bing Crosby * ''Singin' And Swingin' '' – The Mills Brothers * ''Ski Trails'' – Jo Stafford * ''Song Favorites'' – Georgia Gibbs * ''Songs by Kay Starr'' – Kay Starr * ''

'' – Frank Sinatra * ''Songs I Wish I Had Sung the First Time Around'' – Bing Crosby * ''Songs of Faith (Aretha Franklin album), Songs of Faith'' – Aretha Franklin * ''Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child'' – Woody Guthrie * ''Squeeze Play (album), Squeeze Play'' – John Serry, Sr. * ''Swingin' with Her Nibs'' – Georgia Gibbs * ''Swingin' with Kay Starr '' – Kay Starr * ''The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon'' – The Teenagers, The Teenagers Featuring Frankie Lymon * ''Tenor Madness'' – Sonny Rollins * ''This Is Sinatra!'' – Frank Sinatra * ''Three Ragas'' – Ravi Shankar * ''Toshiko – Her Trio, Her Quartet'' – Toshiko Akiyoshi * ''The Toshiko Trio'' – Toshiko Akiyoshi * ''Tragic Songs of Life (The Louvin Brothers album), Tragic Songs of Life'' – The Louvin Brothers * ''Two For Tonight'' – Bing Crosby * ''Under Glass'' – The Hi-Lo's * ''The Unique Thelonious Monk'' – Thelonious Monk * ''Venezuelan Fiesta'' – Aldemaro Romero *''The Voices of Patti Page'' – Patti Page * Heitor Villa-Lobos: ''La Découverte du Brésil'', ''Invocation pour la Défense de la Patrie'', ''Chôros n^o 10'' – Chœrs et Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française; Maria Kareska, soprano; Chorale des ; direction Heitor Villa-Lobos. 2 LPs. Columbia (France) FCX 602 & 603 * ''Whims of Chambers'' – Paul Chambers * ''The Wildest!'' – Louis Prima * ''Work Time'' – Sonny Rollins * ''You Go to My Head (album), You Go to My Head'' – Patti Page

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1956.

US No. 1 hit singles

These singles reached the top of US ''Billboard'' magazine's charts in 1956.

Top hits on record

Top R&B and country hits on record

" –

*"A Casual Look" – Six Teens *"Cry! Cry! Cry!" – Johnny Cash *"Get Rhythm" – Johnny Cash *"I Walk the Line" – Johnny Cash *"In the Still of the Night (1956 song), In the Still of the Night" – Five Satins *"It's Too Late (Chuck Willis song), It's Too Late" – Chuck Willis *"I've Loved And Lost Again" – Patsy Cline *"Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" – Brenda Lee *"Lucky Lips" – Ruth Brown *"My Pink Cadillac" – Hal Willis (singer), Hal Willis *"One Kiss Led to Another" –

*"Ooby Dooby" –

*"Tra La La" – LaVern Baker *"Treasure of Love (Clyde McPhatter song), Treasure of Love" – Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters

Published popular music

* "11th Hour Melody", words: Carl Sigman, music: King Palmer * "Abbondanza", words and music: Frank Loesser * "After the Lights Go Down Low (song), After The Lights Go Down Low" w.m. Alan White & Leroy Lovett * "Ain't Got No Home (Clarence "Frogman" Henry song), Ain't Got No Home" w.m. Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Clarence Henry * "Allegheny Moon" w.m. Al Hoffman & Dick Manning * "Anastasia (song), Anastasia" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Alfred Newman (composer), Alfred Newman * "Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)" w.m. Aaron Schroeder & Cliff Owens * "Around the World (1956 song), Around the World" w. Harold Adamson m. Victor Young * "The Banana Boat Song" trad arr. Alan Arkin, Bob Carey & Erik Darling * "Be-Bop-A-Lula" w.m. Tex Davis & Gene Vincent * "Bells Are Ringing (song), Bells Are Ringing" w. Betty Comden & Adolph Green m. Jule Styne * "The Best of All Possible Worlds (song), The Best of All Possible Worlds" w. Richard Wilbur m.

* "Big D (song), Big D" w.m. Frank Loesser * "(The Same Thing Happens with) The Birds And The Bees, The Birds And The Bees", Mack David, Harry Warren * "Bloodnock's Rock And Roll Call", T. Carbone * "Bluebottle Blues", Spike Milligan, Carbone * "Bo Weevil" w.m. Dave Bartholomew & Fats Domino, Antoine "Fats" Domino * "Boppin' The Blues" w.m.

& Howard Griffin * "Born To Be With You (song), Born To Be With You" w.m. Don Robertson (songwriter), Don Robertson * "Brown Eyed Handsome Man", Chuck Berry * "The Bus Stop Song" (aka "A Paper Of Pins") w.m. Ken Darby * "Can I Steal a Little Love" w.m. Phil Tuminello * "Canadian Sunset" w. Norman Gimbel m. Eddie Heywood * "Chain Gang (song), Chain Gang" w.m. Sol Quasha & Herb Yakus * "Cindy, Oh Cindy" w.m. Robert V. Barron, Bob Barron & Burt Long * "Don't Be Cruel" w.m. Otis Blackwell &

* "Don't Forbid Me" w.m. Charles Singleton (songwriter), Charles Singleton * "Eddie My Love", A. Collins, M. Davis, S. Ling * "Fever (1956 song), Fever" w.m. Eddie Cooley & Otis Blackwell, John Davenport * "The Flying Saucer (song), The Flying Saucer" w. Bill Buchanan (songwriter), Bill Buchanan & Dickie Goodman * "Fools Fall In Love" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller * "Friendly Persuasion (song), Friendly Persuasion" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Dimitri Tiomkin * "The Garden of Eden (1956 song), The Garden of Eden" w.m. Dennise Haas Norwood * "Get Me to the Church on Time" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Stanley Holloway in the musical ''My Fair Lady'' and also performed by Holloway in the 1964 in music, 1964 film. * "Glendora (song), Glendora" w.m. Ray Stanley * "Glitter and Be Gay" w. Richard Wilbut m.

* "The Gnu", Michael Flanders & Donald Swann * "Good Golly, Miss Molly" w.m. John Marascalco & Robert Blackwell * "Goodnight My Love (1956 song), Goodnight My Love" G. Motola, J. Marascalco * "The Green Door" w. Marvin Moore m. Bob Davie (songwriter), Bob Davie * "Happy To Make Your Acquaintance" w.m. Frank Loesser * "The Happy Whistler" m. Don Robertson (songwriter), Don Robertson * "

" w.m. Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden &

* "Hey! Jealous Lover" w.m. Sammy Cahn, Kay Twomey & Bee Walker * "High Society Calypso" w.m. Cole Porter * "The Hippopotamus", Michael Flanders & Donald Swann * "Honky Tonk (instrumental), Honky Tonk" w. Henry Glover m. Bill Doggett, Billy Butler, Shep Shephard & Clifford Scott * "Hot Diggity" w. m.(adapt) Al Hoffman & Dick Manning * "A House With Love In It" w. Sylvia Dee m. Sid Lippman * "(How Little It Matters) How Little We Know(1)" w. Carolyn Leigh m. Philip Springer * "I Could Have Danced All Night" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Julie Andrews in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. Performed in the 1964 in music, 1964 film by Marni Nixon dubbing for Audrey Hepburn. * "I Dreamed" w. Marvin Moore m. Charles Randolph Grean, Charles Grean * "I Love You, Samantha" w.m. Cole Porter Introduced by Bing Crosby in the film ''High Society (1956 film), High Society''. * "I Put a Spell on You" w.m. Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Jay Hawkins & Herb Slotkin * "I Walk the Line" w.m. Johnny Cash * "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" w. Maurice Mysels m. Ira Kosloff * "I Was The One" w.m. Claude Demetrius, Bill Peppers, Hal Blair, Aaron Schroeder * "If I Had My Druthers" w. Johnny Mercer m. Gene De Paul * "I'm an Ordinary Man" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe Introduced by Rex Harrison in the musical ''My Fair Lady'' * "I'm Walkin'" w.m. Antoine "Fats" Domino & Dave Bartholomew * "I'm Walking Backwards For Christmas", Spike Milligan, T. Carbone * "In the Still of the Nite" w.m. Fred Parris * "It Only Hurts For A Little While" w. Mack David m. Fred Spielman * "It's Not For Me To Say" w. Al Stillman m. Robert Allen (song composer), Robert Allen * "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Rex Harrison in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. * "Ivory Tower (1956 song), Ivory Tower" w.m. Jack Fulton (singer), Jack Fulton & Lois Steele * "Joey, Joey, Joey" w.m. Frank Loesser * "Jubilation T. Cornpone" w. Johnny Mercer m. Gene De Paul. Introduced by Stubby Kaye in the musical ''Li'l Abner (musical), Li'l Abner''. * "Juke Box Baby" w. Noel Sherman m. Joe Sherman (songwriter), Joe Sherman * "Just In Time (song), Just In Time" w. Betty Comden & Adolph Green m. Jule Styne. Introduced by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin in the musical ''Bells Are Ringing (musical), Bells Are Ringing'' * "Knee Deep in the Blues" w.m. Melvin Endsley * "Lay Down Your Arms (1956 song), Lay Down Your Arms" w. (English) Paddy Roberts (songwriter), Paddy Roberts, (Swedish) Ake Gerhard m. Ake Gerhard & Leon Land * "Leone Jump" m. John Serry Sr. * "Let the Good Times Roll (Shirley and Lee song), Let The Good Times Roll" w.m. Leonard Lee * "Long Before I Knew You" w. Betty Comden & Adolph Green m. Jule Styne. Introduced by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin in the musical ''Bells Are Ringing (musical), Bells Are Ringing'' * "Long Tall Sally" w.m. Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman & Robert A. Blackwell * "Look Homeward Angel" w.m. Wally Gold * "Love Me Tender (song), Love Me Tender" w.

& Vera Matson m. George R. Poulton * "Love Me (Leiber/Stoller song), Love Me" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller * "Lucky Lips" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller * " (You've Got) The Magic Touch" w.m. Buck Ram * "Mama From The Train" w.m. Irving Gordon * "Mama, Teach Me To Dance" w.m. Al Hoffman & Dick Manning * "Mangos (song), Mangos" w.m. Sid Wayne & Dee Libbey * "Maria (1956 song), Maria" w. Stephen Sondheim m.

* "Marianne (1956 song), Marianne" w.m. Terry Gilkyson, Frank Miller (singer), Frank Miller & Richard Dehr * "Married I Can Always Get" w.m. Gordon Jenkins * "Mary's Boy Child" w.m. Jester Hairston *"Mind If I Make Love to You?" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by

in the film ''High Society (1956 film), High Society'' * "The Money Tree" w. Cliff Ferre m. Mark McIntyre * "Moonlight Gambler" w. Bob Hilliard m. Philip Springer * "More (1956 song), More" w. Tom Glazer m. Alex Alstone * "The Most Happy Fella" w.m. Frank Loesser * "Mutual Admiration Society (song), Mutual Admiration Society" w. Matt Dubey m. Harold Karr. Introduced by Ethel Merman and Virginia Gibson in the musical ''Happy Hunting (musical), Happy Hunting'' * "My Heart Is So Full Of You" w.m. Frank Loesser * "My Lucky Charm", Sammy Cahn & Nicholas Brodszky * "Namely You" w. Johnny Mercer m. Gene De Paul * "Now You Has Jazz" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong in the film ''High Society (1956 film), High Society''. * "Oh, What a Night (The Dells song), Oh What a Nite" w.m. Marvin Junior & John Funches * "On The Street Where You Live" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by John Michael King in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. * "Our Language Of Love" w.m. Monte Norman, David Heneker, Julian More, Alexander Breffort & Marguerite Monnot * "Pardners" w. Sammy Cahn m. Jimmy Van Heusen. Introduced by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in the Pardners, film of the same name * "The Party's Over (1956 song), The Party's Over" w. Betty Comden & Adolph Green m. Jule Styne. Introduced by Judy Holliday in the musical ''Bells Are Ringing (musical), Bells Are Ringing''. * "The Portuguese Washerwomen" (Original title "Las Lavanderas De Portugal") m. André Popp & Roger Lucchesi * "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" w.m. Jay Livingston & Ray Evans * "The Rain in Spain" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Julie Andrews, Rex Harrison and Robert Coote in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. * "Rockin' The Anvil" m. John Serry Sr. arranged for accordion quartet * "Rock With The Caveman", Steele, Pratt, Lionel Bart, Frank Chacksfield * "Roll Over Beethoven" w.m. Chuck Berry * "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" w.m. John D. Loudermilk * "Round and Round (Shapiro/Stallman song), Round and Round" w.m. Lou Stallman & Joe Shapiro * "St. Therese Of The Roses" w.m. Remus Harris and Arthur Strauss * "Shape of Things" w.m. Sheldon Harnick * "Show Me" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Julie Andrews in the musical ''My Fair Lady'' * "Singing the Blues" w.m. Melvin Endsley * "(A Little Boy Called) Smiley", Clyde Collins * "Soft Summer Breeze" w. Judy Spencer m. Eddie Heywood * "Somebody Up There Likes Me (song), Somebody Up There Likes Me" w. Sammy Cahn m. Bronislau Kaper * "Somebody Somewhere (1956 song), Somebody Somewhere" w.m. Frank Loesser * "Song for a Summer Night" w.m. Robert Allen (song composer), Robert Allen * "Standing on the Corner (show tune), Standing on the Corner" w.m. Frank Loesser. Introduced by Shorty Long (singer, 1923–1991), Shorty Long, Alan Gilbert, John Henson and Roy Lazarus in the musical ''The Most Happy Fella''. * "Sweet Heartaches" w.m. Nat Simon & Jimmy Kennedy * "A Sweet Old Fashioned Girl" w.m. Bob Merrill * "A Tear Fell" w.m. Eugene Randolph & Dorian Burton * "Teen-Age Crush" w.m. Audrey Allison & Joe Allison * "Theme from Picnic" w. Steve Allen m. George Duning * "There's Never Been Anyone Else But You" w. Paul Francis Webster m. Dimitri Tiomkin * "This Could Be The Start Of Something" w.m. Steve Allen * "This Is What I Call Love" w. Matt Dubey m. Harold Karr * "A Thousand Miles Away", J. Shephard, N. H. Miller * "Too Close for Comfort (1956 song), Too Close For Comfort" w. Larry Holofcener & George David Weiss m. Jerry Bock * "Too Much (Elvis Presley song), Too Much" w.m. Lee Rosenberg & Bernard Weinman * "A Town Like Alice (song), A Town Like Alice" w.m. Letty Katts * "Transfusion (song), Transfusion" w.m. Jimmy Drake * "True Love (Cole Porter song), True Love" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the film ''High Society (1956 film), High Society''. * "Two Different Worlds (1956 song), Two Different Worlds" w. Sid Wayne m. Al Frisch * "Walk Hand In Hand" w.m. Johnny Cowell * "Warm All Over" w.m. Frank Loesser * "The Wayward Wind" w.m. Stanley Lebowsky & Herb Newman * "When Sunny Gets Blue" w. Jack Segal m. Marvin Fisher * "Who Needs You" w. Al Stillman m. Robert Allen (song composer), Robert Allen * "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (song), Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" w.m. Cole Porter. Introduced by Celeste Holm and

in the film ''High Society (1956 film), High Society''. * "With a Little Bit of Luck" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Stanley Holloway in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. * "Without You (Lerner-Loewe song), Without You" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Julie Andrews in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. * "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" w. Alan Jay Lerner m. Frederick Loewe. Introduced by Julie Andrews in the musical ''My Fair Lady''. Performed in the 1964 in music, 1964 film by Marni Nixon dubbing for Audrey Hepburn. * "Wringle, Wrangle" w.m. Stan Jones. Introduced by Fess Parker in the film ''Westward Ho, the Wagons!'' * "Written on the Wind" w.m. Sammy Cahn & Victor Young * "Ying Tong Song" w.m. Spike Milligan * "Young Love (1956 song), Young Love" w.m. Carole Joyner & Ric Cartey

Classical music

Premieres

Compositions

*Hans Erich Apostel – **String Quartet No. 2 **''Variationen über drei Volkslieder'', for orchestra *Malcolm Arnold – **Concerto No. 2 for Horn and String Orchestra, Op. 58 **''A Grand Grand Overture'', Op. 57, for organ, three vacuum cleaners, electric floor polisher in E-flat, four rifles, and orchestra **''Song of Praise'', Op. 55 (text: J. Clare), for unison voices and piano **Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 54 *Milton Babbitt – ''Semi-Simple Variations'' for piano *Jan Bach – String Trio *Samuel Barber – ''Summer Music'' for wind quintet *William Bergsma – **''The Fortunate Islands'', for string orchestra (revised version) **''March with Trumpets'', for band *

– **String Quartet **''Variazioni "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen"'', for two basset horns and strings *Arthur Bliss – **''Edinburgh'' Overture, for orchestra **''Seek the Lord'' (anthem), SATB choir and organ *Reginald Smith Brindle – ''El Polifemo de Oro'' *

– **''Antiphon'', Op. 56b, for SATB choir and organ **''The Prince of the Pagodas'', Op. 57 (ballet in three acts) *John Cage – **''27′ 10.554″'' for a percussionist **''Music for Piano 53–68'' **''Music for Piano 69–84'' **''Radio Music'', for 1–8 radios *Niccolò Castiglioni – Symphony No. 1 for soprano and orchestra *

– ''Prometheus Bound'', cantata (text: Aeschylus, trans. R. Trevelyan), for alto, tenor, baritone, bass, SATB chorus and orchestra *Aaron Copland – ''Variations on a Shaker Melody'' for symphonic band (from ''Appalachian Spring'') *Henry Cowell – **''Ballad'', for wind quintet **''Bounce Dance'', for piano **''Fifteenth Anniversary'', for two unspecified treble instruments **''Lines from the Dead Sea Scrolls'', for six-part male choir and orchestra **Septet, for five madrigal singers, clarinet, and keyboard **String Quartet No. 5 **''Sidney Xmas '56'', for violin and piano **''Sway Dance'', for piano **Two-Part Invention, for soprano and alto recorders **''Variations for Orchestra'' *Luigi Dallapiccola – ''Cinque canti'' (Greek texts, trans. Salvatore Quasimodo), for baritone and eight instruments *Mario Davidovsky – **Three Pieces for Woodwind Quartet **''Noneti for Nine Instruments'' *Peter Maxwell Davies – Sonata for Clarinet and Piano *Henri Dutilleux – ''Serenade for La couronne de Marguerite Long'' *Herbert Eimert – ''Fünf Stücke'', electronic music *Hanns Eisler – **''Horatios Monolog'' (text: William Shakespeare), for voice and piano **''Legende von der Entstehung des Buches Taote King'' (text: Bertolt Brecht), for voice and piano **''Vier Szenen auf dem Lande'' (text: E. Strittmatter), children's or female voices and small orchestra **''Von Wolkenstreifen leicht befangen'' (text: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe), for voice and piano **''Zu Brechts Tod "Die Wälder atmen noch"'', for voice and four horns *Morton Feldman – **''Piano Piece A'' **''Piano Piece B'' **Pieces (2), for flute, alto flute, horn, trumpet, violin, and cello **Pieces (3), for string quartet *Kenneth Gaburo – **"Ad te domine", for SATB choir **"Ave Maria", for SATB choir **''Elegy for a Small Orchestra'' **"Laetentur caeli", for SATB choir **String Quartet **"Terra tremuit", for SATB choir *Blas Galindo – ''Sinfonia breve'', for string orchestra *Roberto Gerhard – **''Lamparilla Overture'' for orchestra **Sonata for Cello and Piano **Songs (7), for soprano or tenor and guitar *Cecil Armstrong Gibbs – ''Threnody'' *Alberto Ginastera – ''Suite de danzas criollas'', for piano (revised version) *Henryk Górecki – **''Three Songs'', Op. 3 (song cycle, text: Juliusz Słowacki, Julian Tuwim) **''Variations'', Op. 4 **''Quartettino'', Op. 5 **Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 6 **''Songs of Joy and Rhythm'', Op. 7 **Sonatina in One Movement, Op. 8 **Lullaby, Op. 9 **''From the Bird's Nest'', Op. 9a (cycle of miniatures) *Camargo Guarnieri – **''Chôro'', for clarinet and orchestra **''Chôro'', for piano and orchestra **Sonata No. 4 for violin and piano **Sonata No. 5 for violin and piano *Carlos Guastavino – **''La primera pregunta (El adolescente muerto)'', for voice and piano (text: N. Cortese) **''Ombú'', for voice and piano (text: N. Mileo, revised in 1989) **''Mi canto'', for voice and piano (text:Mileo), *Ernesto Halffter – ''Fantasía galaica'' (ballet) *Iain Hamilton (composer), Iain Hamilton – ''The Bermudas'', Op. 33 (text: Hamilton, Jourdain, A. Marvell), for baritone, chorus, and orchestra *Karl Amadeus Hartmann – Symphony No. 1 ''Versuch eines Requiems'' *Robert Helps – ''Études'' (3), for piano *

– **''Concerto per il Marigny'', for piano, clarinet, bass clarinet, horn, trumpet, trombone, viola, and cello **''Fünf neapolitanische Lieder'' (texts: anon. 17th-century), for baritone and chamber orchestra **''Maratona'' (dance drama in one act), also a suite for two jazz bands and orchestra **''Sinfonische Etüden'', for orchestra *Alfred Hill (composer), Alfred Hill – **Symphony No. 6 "Gaelic" **Symphony No. 7, in E minor *Paul Hindemith – **"Othmar Sch Sch Sch Schoeck", canon for four voices **"40, 40, 40, 40, es lebe hoch das Konzerthausleben", canon for three voices *

– **''God Who Is in the Fire'', Op. 146, for tenor solo, men's choir, and percussion (revised in 1965) **''Greek Folk Dances'' (7), Op. 150, for harmonica and piano **''Hercules'', Op. 56, no. 4, for soprano and violin **''Nocturne'', Op. 20, no. 2, for flute and harp **Piano Sonata, Op. 145 **Symphony No. 3, Op. 148 *Andrew Imbrie – **''Introit, Gradual and Alleluia for All Saints' Day'', chorus and organ **''Little Concerto'', for piano four-hands and orchestra *Gordon Jacob – **Concerto No. 2 for Oboe and Orchestra **Sextet for Piano and Wind Quintet **Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano **Variations on "Annie Laurie", for two piccolos, two contrabass clarinets, heckelphone, two contrabassoons, serpent, contrabass serpent, subcontrabass tuba, harmonium, and hurdy-gurdy *Dmitri Kabalevsky – **''Romeo and Juliet'', suite from the incidental music, Op. 56 **Symphony No. 4, Op. 54 *Wojciech Kilar – **''Beskidy Suite'' for tenor, mixed choir and small orchestra **''Ode Béla Bartók in memoriam'', for violin, brass, and percussion **Symphony No. 2 ''Sinfonia concertante'' for piano and symphony orchestra *Gottfried Michael Koenig – ''Klangfiguren II'', electronic music *Ernst Krenek – **''Guten Morgen, Amerika'', Op. 159, for chorus (text: Carl Sandburg) **''Spiritus Intelligentiae, Sanctus'', Whitsun oratorio for soprano and tenor with electronic music *Lars-Erik Larsson – Concertino for Violin *

– ''Notturno'', electronic music *Gian-Francesco Malipiero – ''Dialoghi VII'' for two pianos and orchestra *Frank Martin (composer), Frank Martin – **Études, for string orchestra **''Ouverture en hommage à Mozart'', for orchestra *Bohuslav Martinů – **''Impromptu'' for Two Pianos **''Legenda z dýmu bramborové'' [Legend of the Smoke from Potato Tops] (text: Bureš), solo voices, chorus, flute, clarinet, horn, accordion, and piano **Piano Concerto no. 4, ''Incantation'' **Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano **Sonatina for Trumpet and Piano *Yoritsune Matsudaira – ''Figure sonores'' for orchestra *Toshiro Mayuzumi and Makoto Moroi – ''Seven Variations'', electronic music *Peter Mennin – **Concerto for Cello and Orchestra **Sonata Concertante for Violin and Piano *Gian Carlo Menotti – ''The Unicorn, the Gorgon, and the Manticore, or The Three Sundays of a Poet'' (madrigal ballet/fable) *

– ''Oiseaux exotiques'', for piano, eleven winds, and seven percussionists *

– ''The Past Revisited'', three pieces for unaccompanied violin *Frederic Mompou and Xavier Montsalvatge – ''Perimplinada'' (ballet, after Federico García Lorca), *Bo Nilsson – ''Zwei Stücke'', for flute, bass clarinet, piano, and percussion *Luigi Nono – ''Il canto sospeso'' (text: letters of Resistance fighters), for soprano, contralto, tenor, chorus, and orchestra *Harry Partch – ''The Bewitched'' (dance satire in one act), soprano, chorus, dancers, large instrumental ensemble *Juan Carlos Paz – ''Música para fagot, cuerdas y batería'' *Vincent Persichetti **''Little Recorder Book'', Op. 70, 1956 **Serenade no. 9, Op. 71, for two recorders **Symphony No. 6, Op. 69, for Band *Allan Pettersson – Concerto No. 2 for Strings *Daniel Pinkham – **Concerto for Violin and Orchestra **''Wedding Cantata'', for optional solo voices, chorus, and instrumental ensemble *Walter Piston – **Quintet for Winds ** ''Serenata'' for Orchestra *Quincy Porter – **''Nocturne'', for piano **Songs (2), (text: A. Porter) *Francis Poulenc – ''Dernier poème'' *Franz Reizenstein – **''Concerto populare'' **''Fantasia concertante'', op.33, for violin and piano *George Rochberg – **''Dialogues'', for clarinet and piano **''Sonata-Fantasia'', for piano *Ned Rorem – Symphony No. 2 *Miklós Rózsa – Concerto for Violin *Edmund Rubbra – **Piano Concerto in G, Op. 85 **''Improvisation for Violin and Orchestra,'' Op. 89 *Giacinto Scelsi – ''Quattro Pezzi Su Una Nota Sola,'' for chamber orchestra of twenty-six musicians *R. Murray Schafer – ''Minnelieder'' (Minnesinger texts), for mezzo-soprano and wind quintet *Hermann Schroeder – Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra *William Schuman – **''Chester Overture'', for concert band **''The Lord Has a Child'', for SATB choir, or female choir, or solo voice, with piano (text: Langston Hughes) **''New England Triptych'', for orchestra **''Rounds on Famous Words'' (4), for SATB choir (a fifth round was added in 1969) *John Serry Sr. – ''Garden In Monaco'' – for accordion quartet *Roger Sessions – Piano Concerto *Dmitri Shostakovich – **''Ispanskiye pesni'' [Spanish Songs], op. 100 (texts: anon., translated by Bolotin, Sikorskaya), mezzo-soprano and piano **String Quartet No. 6 (Shostakovich), String Quartet No. 6 in G major Op. 101 *Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji – **''Passeggiata veneziana sopra la Barcarola di Offenbach'', for piano **''Rosario d'arabeschi'', for piano *

– **''Gesang der Jünglinge'', electronic and concrete music **''Klavierstücke (Stockhausen)#Klavierstück XI: polyvalent structure, Klavierstück XI'' **''Zeitmaße'', for five woodwinds *

– ''Choral-Variationen über das Weihnachtslied "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her"'', arr. from Johann Sebastian Bach, for chorus and orchestra *Sándor Szokolay – Violin Concerto, Op. 13 *Virgil Thomson – ''Homage to Marya Freund and to the Harp'', musical portrait for piano *Michael Tippett – **''Bonny at Morn'' (arr. of Northumbrian folksong), unison choir and three recorders **''Songs from the British Isles'' (4), SATB choir *Vladimir Ussachevsky – ''Piece for tape recorder'' *Ralph Vaughan Williams – **''A Choral Flourish'' (text from the Psalms), for SATB choir, two trumpets, and organ **''God Bless the Master of This House'', for SATB choir **''Preludes on Welsh Folksongs (2), for organ'' **Symphony No. 8 **''A Vision of Aeroplanes'' (text: N. Ezekiel), motet for SATB choir and organ *

– ''Emperor Jones'' (ballet, after Eugene O'Neill), *William Walton – Cello Concerto *Mieczysław Weinberg – Piano Sonata No. 5 in A minor, Op. 58 *Egon Wellesz – **Suite for solo clarinet, Op. 74 **Suite for solo oboe, Op. 76 **Symphony No. 5, Op. 75 *Charles Wuorinen – ''Music for Orchestra'' *Iannis Xenakis – ''Pithoprakta'', for orchestra

Opera

*Malcolm Arnold – ''The Open Window'', Op. 56 (opera in one act, libretto by S. Gilliat, after Saki), premiered on December 14, 1956, on BBC TV *

– ''Candide (Bernstein), Candide'' (comic operetta in two acts, libretto by Lillian Hellman, R. Wilbur, J. La Touche, D. Parker, and Bernstein, after Voltaire) *William Bergsma – ''The Wife of Martin Guerre'' (opera in three acts, libretto by J. Lewis) *Wolfgang Fortner – ''Bluthochzeit'' (opera in two acts, after Federico García Lorca) *Arnold Franchetti – ''The Game of Cards'' (opera in one act, libretto by the composer) *Kenneth Gaburo – ''Blur'' (opera in one act, libretto by the composer) *

– ''König Hirsch'' (opera in three acts, libretto by H. von Cramer, after Carlo Gozzi) *Ben Johnston – ''Gertrude, or Would She Be Pleased to Receive It?'' (chamber opera in two acts, libretto by W. Leach) *Leonard Kastle – ''The Swing'' (thirteen-minute television opera, broadcast at noon on Sunday, June 10, 1956, on NBC television) *Frank Martin (composer), Frank Martin – ''Der Sturm'' (opera in three acts, libretto after William Shakespeare, in a German translation by A.W. von Schlege) *Douglas Moore – ''The Ballad of Baby Doe'' *Gino Negri – ''Vieni qui, Carla'' (opera in one act, after Alberto Moravia's ''Gli indifferenti'') *Elie Siegmeister – ''Miranda and the Dark Young Man'' (opera in one act, libretto by Edward Eager) *Robert Ward (composer), Robert Ward – ''He Who Gets Slapped'' (libretto by Bernard Stambler), staged under the title ''Pantaloon''

Jazz

Musical theatre

* ''At the Drop of a Hat'', London revue Starring Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, opened at the London fringe venue New Lindsey Theatre on December 31 and transferred to the Fortune Theatre, West End theatre, West End, on January 24, 1957, for a total run of 808 performances * ''Bells Are Ringing (musical), Bells Are Ringing'', Broadway theatre, Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre (Broadway), Shubert Theatre on November 29 and ran for 924 performances * ''Candide (operetta), Candide'' (

) – Broadway production opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on December 1 and ran for 73 performances * ''Fanny (musical), Fanny'', London production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Drury Lane Theatre on November 15 and ran for 347 performances * ''Grab Me a Gondola'' London production opened at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on November 27 and ran for 673 performances *''Happy Hunting (musical), Happy Hunting'' Broadway theatre, Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre (Broadway), Majestic Theatre on December 6 and ran for 412 performances * ''Irma La Douce (musical), Irma La Douce'', Paris production opened at the Théâtre Gramont on November 12 * ''Li'l Abner (musical), Li'l Abner'' (Gene de Paul and Johnny Mercer) – Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on November 15 and ran for 693 performances * ''The Most Happy Fella'', Broadway production opened at the Imperial Theatre on May 3 and ran for 676 performances * ''Mr. Wonderful (musical), Mr. Wonderful'', Broadway production opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 22 and ran for 383 performances * ''My Fair Lady'' (Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe) – Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 15 and ran for 2717 performances * ''Plain and Fancy'', London production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Drury Lane Theatre on January 25 and ran for 217 performances

Musical films

* ''Anything Goes (1956 film), Anything Goes'' starring Bing Crosby and Donald O'Connor * ''Carousel (film), Carousel'' starring Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones * ''The Court Jester'' starring Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury * ''The Girl Can't Help It'' starring Jayne Mansfield and Tom Ewell, and featuring Julie London, Ray Anthony, Fats Domino and The Platters. * ''High Society (1956 film), High Society'' starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly,

, Louis Armstrong and Celeste Holm * ''It's a Wonderful World (1956 film), It's a Wonderful World'' starring George Cole (actor), George Cole and featuring Ted Heath (bandleader), Ted Heath and Dennis Lotis * ''It's Great to Be Young (1956 film), It's Great to Be Young'' starring John Mills and Cecil Parker * ''The King and I (1956 film), The King and I'' starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr * ''Pardners'' starring Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Lori Nelson * ''A Touch of the Sun (1956 film), A Touch of the Sun'' starring Frankie Howerd, Ruby Murray and Dennis Price * ''The Vagabond King'' starring Kathryn Grayson

Births

*January 1 – **Andy Gill, English post-punk guitarist and record producer (died 2020) **Martin Plaza, Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist *

– Julie Miller, singer *January 4 – **Alex Cline, American drummer and educator **Nels Cline, American guitarist and songwriter (Wilco) *January 9 – Waltraud Meier, operatic soprano *January 10 – Shawn Colvin, American singer *January 14 – Ben Heppner, Canadian tenor *January 17 – Paul Young, English pop-rock singer and guitarist (Streetband) *January 18 – **Tom Bailey (musician), Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins) **Christoph Prégardien, operatic tenor *January 22 – Steve Riley (drummer), Steve Riley, American drummer *January 24 – Lounès Matoub, Algerian Berber Kabyle singer *January 25 – Andy Cox (The Beat (British band), The Beat, Fine Young Cannibals) *January 29 – **Irlene Mandrell, American actress and singer **Amii Stewart, American singer *January 30 – Henry Doktorski, accordionist *January 31 – Johnny Rotten, singer (Sex Pistols) *February 1 – Exene Cervenka, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (X (American band), X, The Knitters and Auntie Christ) *

– Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) *February 8 – Dave Meros, American bass player (Spock's Beard) *February 13 – Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order (band), New Order) *February 26 – Keisuke Kuwata, Japanese musician *March 2 – John Cowsill (The Cowsills) *March 5 – Teena Marie, singer (died 2010) *March 9 – Sergej Larin, operatic tenor (died 2008) *March 12 – Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) *March 13 – John Frandsen (composer), John Frandsen, Danish composer *March 16 – Vladimír Godár, composer *April 14 – Barbara Bonney, operatic and concert soprano *April 28 – Jimmy Barnes, Australian musician *May 4 – Sharon Jones, African American soul singer (died 2016) *May 7 – Steve Diggle, English punk musician (Buzzcocks and Flag of Convenience (band), Flag of Convenience) *May 12 – Greg Phillinganes, American keyboardist *May 18 – Jim Moginie, Australian rock guitarist (''Midnight Oil'') *May 25 – **Sugar Minott, reggae singer **Helen Terry, pop singer and producer *May 29 – La Toya Jackson, American singer *June – Chi-chi Nwanoku, English double bass player *

– **Lynne Dawson, soprano **Danny Wilde (musician), Danny Wilde, American singer and guitarist (The Quick (American band), The Quick and The Rembrandts) *

– Kenny G, saxophonist *June 23 – Randy Jackson, American bassist and producer *June 24 – Michael Coleman (blues musician), Michael Coleman, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died 2014) *June 30 – Ronald Winans, African American musician (died 2005) *July 12 – Sandi Patty, American gospel singer *July 15 – **Ian Curtis, vocalist (Joy Division) (died 1980) **Marky Ramone, American drummer and songwriter (Ramones, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, and Misfits (band), Misfits) **Joe Satriani, famous guitar virtuoso, current guitarist for Chickenfoot *July 20 – Paul Cook (Sex Pistols) *August 1 – Steve Green (singer), Steve Green, American Christian musician *August 3 – Graeme Koehne, composer and music teacher *August 8 – **Chris Foreman (Madness (band), Madness) **David Grant (singer), David Grant, English singer and vocal coach *August 18 – **Kelly Willard, American Christian singer **Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, American drummer *August 26 – Sally Beamish, composer *August 27 – Glen Matlock, guitarist (Sex Pistols) *August 29 – GG Allin, American singer-songwriter (died 1993) *September 4 – Blackie Lawless, American singer-songwriter (W.A.S.P. (band), W.A.S.P.) *September 10 – Johnnie Fingers, Irish musician (The Boomtown Rats) *September 22 – Debby Boone, singer *October 2 – Freddie Jackson, soul singer *

– Marin Alsop, orchestral conductor *October 23 – Dwight Yoakam, singer-songwriter *November 4 – Igor Talkov, Russian singer/songwriter (died 1991) *November 8 – **Alan Frew, lead singer (Glass Tiger) **Steven Miller (record producer), Steven Miller, American record producer *November 12 – Stevie Young musician (AC/DC, Starfighters (band), Starfighters) *November 17 – Philip Grange, composer *November 20 – Kool DJ Red Alert, disc jockey *November 22 – Lawrence Gowan, musician-songwriter (Styx (band), Styx, Rhinegold) *November 24 – Jouni Kaipainen, composer *November 25 – Kalle Randalu, Estonian pianist and educator *December 6 – **Peter Buck, American rock guitarist R.E.M. **Randy Rhoads, American heavy metal guitarist (Ozzy Osbourne band) (died 1982) *December 8 – **Warren Cuccurullo (Missing Persons (band), Missing Persons, Duran Duran) **Pierre Pincemaille, French musician *December 13 – Majida El Roumi, singer *December 19 **Masami Akita, Noise musician, (aka Merzbow) **William Orbit, composer *December 20 – Anita Ward, American singer *December 23 – Dave Murray (musician), Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) *December 28 – Nigel Kennedy, crossover violinist

Deaths

– Alexander Gretchaninov, composer, 91 *January 5 – Mistinguett, entertainer, 80 *January 9 – Paul de Maleingreau, organist and composer, 68 *January 20 – Lucy Isabelle Marsh, soprano and early recording artist, 77 *

– Erich Kleiber, conductor, 65 *February 2 – Charles Grapewin, vaudeville performer, 86 *February 4 – Peder Gram, organist and composer, 74 *February 17 – John N. Klohr, composer of band music, 86 *February 18 – Gustave Charpentier, composer, 95 *February 21 – Edwin Franko Goldman, band composer, 78 *February 26 – Elsie Janis, singer, songwriter and actress, 66 *March 5 – Erich Itor Kahn, composer, 50 (brain haemorrhage) *March 11 – Sergei Vasilenko, Russian composer, 83 *March 16 – Joseph John Richards, conductor, composer and music teacher, 77 *March 28 – Thomas de Hartmann, composer, 70 *April 9 – Jack Little (songwriter), Jack Little, composer, actor, singer and songwriter *April 15 – Kathleen Howard, opera singer, character actress, 71 *May 20 – Harry Stewart, comedian, singer, and songwriter, 47 (car accident) *June 11 – Frankie Trumbauer, US saxophonist, bandleader and sometime singer, 55 (heart attack) *June 23 – Reinhold Glière, composer, 81 *June 25 – Michio Miyagi, blind Japanese composer and inventor of musical instruments, 62 (fall from train) *June 26 (in a car accident): **Clifford Brown, jazz trumpeter, 25 **Richie Powell, jazz pianist, 24 *July 18 – Violet Loraine, musical theatre star, 69 *August 14 **May Brahe, songwriter, 71 **Jaroslav Řídký, composer, 58 *August 31 – Yves Nat, pianist and composer, 65 *September 6 – Felix Borowski, composer and music teacher, 84 *

– Rupert Hughes, composer, 84 *September 21 – Rigoberto López Pérez, composer and poet, 35 (shot) *September 27 – Gerald Finzi, composer, 55 ("severe brain inflammation") *October 1 – Albert Von Tilzer, songwriter, 78 *October 12 – Don Lorenzo Perosi, composer, 83 *October 18 – Harry Parry, jazz musician, 44 *October 19 – Isham Jones, US bandleader and composer, 62 *

– Valda Valkyrien, ballerina, 61 *October 26 – Walter Gieseking, pianist, 60 *November 1 – Tommy Johnson (musician), Tommy Johnson, blues musician, 60 *

– Art Tatum, jazz pianist, 47 (kidney failure) *November 10 – Victor Young, violinist, conductor and composer, 56 (brain haemorrhage) *November 24 – Guido Cantelli, conductor, 36 (plane crash) *November 26 – Tommy Dorsey, bandleader, 51 (choking) *November 30 **Ludvík Kuba, artist and musician, 93 **Jean Schwartz, songwriter, 78 *December 7 – Henry Fillmore, composer and publisher, 75

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

Biggest hit singles

US No. 1 hit singles

Top hits on record

Top R&B and country hits on record

Published popular music

Classical music

Premieres

Compositions

Opera

Jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

References