This topic covers notable events and articles related to 2012 in music. This year was the peak of music downloads sales in the United States, with sales declining year on year since then.

Specific locations

* 2012 in African music *

2012 in American music 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...

* 2012 in Asian music * 2012 in Australian music * 2012 in British music * 2012 in Canadian music * 2012 in Chinese music * 2012 in European music (

Continental Europe Continental Europe or mainland Europe is the contiguous continent of Europe, excluding its surrounding islands. It can also be referred to ambiguously as the European continent, – which can conversely mean the whole of Europe – and, by ...

) * 2012 in French music * 2012 in German music * 2012 in Irish music * 2012 in Japanese music * 2012 in Norwegian music * 2012 in South Korean music * 2012 in Swedish music * 2012 in Taiwanese music

Specific genres

* 2012 in alternative music * 2012 in classical music * 2012 in country music *

2012 in heavy metal music This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2012. Bands disbanded * A Plea for Purging * Ajattara * Anterior * Averse Sefira * Blind Witness * The Carrier * Cathedral * The Crimson Armada * Dead and Divine * Deca ...

* 2012 in hip hop music * 2012 in jazz * 2012 in Latin music * 2012 in opera * 2012 in rock music

Albums released

Classical music

* Hans Abrahamsen – String Quartet No. 4 *

John Adams John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, attorney, diplomat, writer, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Befor ...

– ''

Absolute Jest ''Absolute Jest'' is a concerto for string quartet and orchestra by the American composer John Adams. The work was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony for the orchestra's centennial. Its world premiere was given at the Louise M. Davies ...

'', for string quartet and orchestra *

Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle (15 July 1934 – 18 April 2022) was an English composer of contemporary classical music best known for his operas, often based on mythological subjects. Among his many compositions, his better known works include ''Th ...

– ''The Moth Requiem'', for twelve female voices, three harps and alto flute *

Elliott Carter Elliott Cook Carter Jr. (December 11, 1908 – November 5, 2012) was an American modernist composer. One of the most respected composers of the second half of the 20th century, he combined elements of European modernism and American "ultra- ...

**''

Dialogues II ''Dialogues II'' is a composition for piano and chamber orchestra by the American composer Elliott Carter. It was composed in celebration of the conductor Daniel Barenboim's 70th birthday. The work was first performed at La Scala, Milan on October ...

'', for piano and chamber orchestra **''Epigrams'', for violin, cello, and piano **''Instances'', for chamber orchestra *

Unsuk Chin Unsuk Chin ( ko, 진은숙 ; born July 14, 1961) is a South Korean composer of contemporary classical music, who is based in Berlin, Germany. Chin was self-taught piano from a young age and studied composition at Seoul National University as w ...

– ''cosmigimmicks. A musical pantomime for seven instrumentalists'' *

Peter Maxwell Davies Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (8 September 1934 – 14 March 2016) was an English composer and conductor, who in 2004 was made Master of the Queen's Music. As a student at both the University of Manchester and the Royal Manchester College of Music ...

– Symphony No. 9 * Clemens Gadenstätter **''Bersten/Platzen (Paramyth 4)'', for cello and piano **''Haüten/Paramyth 1'', for string quartet **''Sad Songs'', for quartet with saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, piano and integrated electronics *

Magnus Lindberg Magnus Gustaf Adolf Lindberg (born 27 June 1958) is a Finnish composer and pianist. He was the New York Philharmonic's composer-in-residence from 2009 to 2012 and has been the London Philharmonic Orchestra's composer-in-residence since the begin ...

– ''Acequia Madre'', for clarinet and piano * Bruno Mantovani – ''Concerto pour deux pianos'', for two pianos and orchestra *

Tristan Murail Tristan Murail (born 11 March 1947) is a French composer associated with the "spectral" technique of composition. Among his compositions is the large orchestral work ''Gondwana''. Early life and studies Murail was born in Le Havre, France. His fa ...

**''The Bronze Age'', for flute, clarinet, trombone, violin, cello and piano **''Le Désenchantement du Monde'', piano concerto *

Matthias Pintscher Matthias Pintscher (born 29 January 1971) is a German composer and conductor. As a youth, he studied the violin and conducting. Life and career Pintscher was born in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia. He began his music studies with Giselher Klebe in ...

**''Bereshit'', for large ensemble **''Uriel'', for cello and piano *

Alberto Posadas Alberto Posadas (Valladolid, 1967), is a Spanish composer. Biography Alberto Posadas was born in 1967 in Valladolid where he underwent his first musical education which he then continued in Madrid at the Madrid Royal Conservatory. In 1988 he met ...

- ''Sombras'', for soprano, clarinet and string quartet * Eva Reiter – ''Irrlicht'', for ensemble and electronics *

Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; born 14 October 1952) is a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho has received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the Ensemble Inter ...

**''

Circle Map In mathematics, particularly in dynamical systems, Arnold tongues (named after Vladimir Arnold) Section 12 in page 78 has a figure showing Arnold tongues. are a pictorial phenomenon that occur when visualizing how the rotation number of a dynamica ...

'', for orchestra and electronics **''Duft'', for clarinet **''Sombre'', for voice, bass flute, percussion, harp, and double bass *

Erkki-Sven Tüür Erkki-Sven Tüür (born 16 October 1959) is an Estonian composer. Life and career Tüür () was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition wit ...

– String Quartet No. 2 ''Lost Prayers'' *

Pēteris Vasks Pēteris Vasks (born 16 April 1946) is a Latvian composer. Biography Vasks was born in Aizpute, Latvia, into the family of a Baptist pastor. He trained as a violinist at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, as a double-bass player wi ...

– Cello concerto No. 2 ''Klātbūtne'' ('Presence')

Opera

* George Benjamin - ''

Written on Skin ''Written on Skin'' is an opera by the British composer George Benjamin. Benjamin's first full-length opera, it was premiered at the 2012 Aix-en-Provence Festival by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as a commission from five opera centres,John All ...

Deaths

;January * 3 – Daniel Peil (69), American rock singer ( The Corporation) * 4 –

Totti Bergh Theodor Christian Frølich Bergh known as Totti Bergh (5 December 1935 in Oslo – 4 January 2012 in Oslo) was a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone), the younger brother of the jazz journalist Johannes (Johs.) Bergh (1932–2001). He was married ...

(76), Norwegian jazz saxophonist. **

Ruthilde Boesch Ruthilde Boesch, born Ruthilde Klösterer, married also Ruthilde Loibner (9 January 1918 – 20 January 2012) was an Austrian soprano in opera, operetta, song and concert, and a vocal pedagogue. She was a member of the Vienna State Opera for dec ...

(94), Austrian soprano. ** John Levy (99), American jazz upright-bassist. * 26 –

Clare Fischer Douglas Clare Fischer (October 22, 1928 – January 26, 2012) was an American keyboardist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. After graduating from Michigan State University (from which, five decades later, he would receive an honorary doctorate ...

(83), American jazz keyboardist, composer, arranger and bandleader. ;February *11 –

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...

(48), American pop/R&B singer. * 22 –

Eivin One Pedersen Eivin One Pedersen (8 September 1956 – 22 February 2012) was a Norwegian jazz musician (accordion and piano) from Stavanger, Norway. Career One Pedersen played in the trio Detail, together with Frode Gjerstad (saxophone) and John Stevens ( ...

(55), Norwegian jazz accordionist and pianist. * 25 –

Red Holloway James Wesley "Red" Holloway (May 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Born in Helena, Arkansas,Daniel E. Slotnik"Red Holloway, Swinger of the Sax, Dies at 84" ''The New York Times'', February 28, 2012 ...

(84), American jazz tenor saxophonist. ;March * 1 –

Lucio Dalla Lucio Dalla (; 4 March 1943 – 1 March 2012) was an Italian singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He also played clarinet and keyboards. Dalla was the composer of " Caruso" (1986), a song dedicated to Italian opera tenor Enrico Caruso, and ...

(68), Italian jazz singer, clarinetist and actor. * 3 –

Frank Marocco Frank L. Marocco (January 2, 1931 – March 3, 2012) was an American piano-accordionist, arranger and composer. He was recognized as one of the most recorded accordionists in the world. Background Born in Joliet, Illinois Frank Marocco grew up ...

(81), American jazz piano-accordionist, arranger and composer. * 6 –

Robert B. Sherman Robert Bernard Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012) was an American songwriter, best known for his work in musical films with his brother, Richard M. Sherman. The Sherman brothers produced more motion picture song scores than any ...

, 86, American songwriter, and brother of

Richard M. Sherman Richard Morton Sherman (born June 12, 1928) is an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact checkers, "the Sherman Brot ...

(

Sherman Brothers The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in musical films, made up of Robert B. Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012) and Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928). Together they received various accolades in ...

) * 15 –

Edvard Hagerup Bull Edvard Hagerup Bull (23 January 1855 – 25 March 1938) was a Norwegian jurist and assessor of the Supreme Court of Norway. He was a member of the Norwegian Parliament and government official with the Conservative Party of Norway. Background Ed ...

(89), Norwegian composer. ;May * 4 -

Adam Yauch Adam Nathaniel Yauch ( ; August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012), better known under the stage name MCA, was an American rapper, bass player, filmmaker and a founding member of the hip hop group Beastie Boys. Besides his musical work, he also directed ...

(47), American rapper (

Beastie Boys Beastie Boys were an American rap rock group from New York City, formed in 1978. The group was composed of Mike D, Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (voca ...

) * 10 –

Bernardo Sassetti Bernardo da Costa Sassetti Pais (24 June 1970 – 10 May 2012) was a Portuguese jazz pianist and film composer. Sassetti was born in Lisbon. He was a great-grandson of Sidónio Pais, President of the First Republic. He initially played guita ...

(41), Portuguese jazz pianist and composer. * 13 –

Trond Bråthen Trond Bråthen (28 May 1977 – 13 May 2012), also known by the stage names Trondr Nefas and Alastor Nefas, or simply as Nefas, was a Norwegian singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist. Despite being primarily known for his work as the vocalist an ...

alias "Trondr Nefas" (35), Norwegian singer and guitarist of the black metal band

Urgehal Urgehal () is a black metal band from Norway. It was formed in Hønefoss in 1992 by lead guitarist/vocalist Trond Bråthen ('Trondr Nefas') and rhythm guitarist 'Enzifer'. Before their split up in 2016, they released seven full-length albums, four ...

* 14 – Belita Woods (63), American R&B singer ( Brainstorm) * 30 –

Pete Cosey Peter Palus Cosey (October 9, 1943 – May 30, 2012) was an American guitarist who played with Miles Davis' band between 1973 and 1975. His fiercely flanged and distorted guitar invited comparisons to Jimi Hendrix. Cosey kept a low profile for ...

(68), American jazz guitarist. ;June * 8 – Wilf Doyle (87), Canadian accordionist * 26 – Harry W. Kvebæk (87), Norwegian classical trumpeter and academic. ;July * 7 –

Alf Pearson Bob and Alf Pearson were an English musical variety double act, consisting of brothers Robert Alexander Pearson (15 August 1907 – 30 December 1985) and Alfred Vernon Pearson (15 June 1910 – 7 July 2012), who were mainly known for their singi ...

(102), British singer and variety performer (Bob and Alf Pearson) * 27 –

Darryl Cotton Darryl Grant Cotton (4 September 1949 27 July 2012) was an Australian pop, rock singer-songwriter, television presenter and actor. He was a founding member of Australian rock group Zoot in 1965, with Beeb Birtles, and were later joined by Rick ...

(62), Australian pop-rock singer-songwriter ( Zoot, Cotton, Lloyd & Christian) ;August * 11 –

Von Freeman Earle Lavon "Von" Freeman Sr. (October 3, 1923 – August 11, 2012) was an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography Born in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman as a young child was exposed to jazz. His father, George, a city policeman, was a c ...

(88), American jazz saxophonist. ;September * 26 – Marty Fortson (67), American rock and roll singer (

The Rivieras The Rivieras were an American rock band that formed in the early 1960s in South Bend, Indiana. They had a hit with the song " California Sun". History The Rivieras were made up of teenagers from South Bend Central High School. (This band shoul ...

) * 29 – Johnny Sanders (66), American rock guitarist (

The Gants The Gants was an American garage rock band that formed in 1964 in Greenwood, Mississippi, in the cultural and geographic Deep South. History The Kingsmen – a different band from the Kingsmen that had a major hit with "Louie Louie" in the ...

) ;October * 8 –

John Tchicai John Martin Tchicai ( ; 28 April 1936 – 8 October 2012) was a Danish free jazz saxophonist and composer. Biography Tchicai was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to a Danish mother and a Congolese father. The family moved to Aarhus, where he st ...

(76), Danish jazz saxophonist and composer. * 26 – Louis Nunley (81), American pop singer ( The Anita Kerr Quartet) ;November * 3 **

Anne-Lise Berntsen Anne-Lise Berntsen (28 August 1943 – 3 November 2012) was a Norwegian soprano. The daughter of Harald Berntsen (1901–1974) and Arnhild Rossetnes (1916–1991), she was born in Drammen, and grew up in Eggedal Eggedal is a valley and parish ...

(69), Norwegian soprano singer. **

Odd Børretzen Odd Lunde Børretzen (21 November 1926 – 3 November 2012) was a Norwegian author, illustrator, translator, and one of the most significant text writers, folk singers and artists in Norway. Biography Børretzen was born in Fister in th ...

(85), Norwegian author and folk singer (pneumonia). * 15 –

Frode Thingnæs Frode Thingnæs (20 March 1940 – 15 November 2012) was a Norwegian jazz composer, arranger, conductor and trombone player who formed the Frode Thingnæs Quintet in 1960. Career Thingnæs was introduced to music at eight years old, when he sta ...

(72), Norwegian jazz trombonist and bandleader (complications from a heart attack). ;December * 5 –

Dave Brubeck David Warren Brubeck (; December 6, 1920 – December 5, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Often regarded as a foremost exponent of cool jazz, Brubeck's work is characterized by unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasti ...

(91), American jazz pianist and composer.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2012 In Music 2012-related lists Music by year