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 The following is a list of events and releases that have happened or are expected to happen in 2012 in African music. Events *''date unknown'' **Johnny Clegg receives the Order of Ikhamanga, Silver - the highest honour a citizen can receive in ...

* 2012 in American music * 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, b ...

) * 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 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&nb ...

* 2012 in classical music * 2012 in country music * 2012 in heavy metal music *

2012 in hip hop music This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2012. Events January *Cory Gunz was arrested for possessing a loaded firearm. *Azealia Banks signs to Universal Music. February * Kanye ...

2012 in jazz This is a timeline documenting events of Jazz in the year 2012. Events January * 25 – The very first Bodø Jazz Open started in Bodø, Norway (January 25–28). February * 3 ** April 30 is designated as International Jazz Day to c ...

2012 in Latin music This is a list of notable events in Latin music (i.e. Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking music from Latin America, Europe, and the United States) that took place in 2012. Events * October 20 – ''Billboard'' updates their methodology for several ...

2012 in opera Events *February – Andrea Bocelli stars in two performances of Gounod's '' Roméo et Juliette'' at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. He cancels a third after suffering voice strain. *April 10 – A terminally-ill Robin Gibb is unable to atten ...

2012 in rock music This article summarizes the events related to rock music for the year of 2012. Notable events January * A number of late 2011 released rock albums stay in the top 10 of the US all-format ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart in January, including The ...

Albums released

Classical music

Hans Abrahamsen Hans Abrahamsen (born 23 December 1952) is a Danish composer born in Kongens Lyngby near Copenhagen. His '' Let me tell you'' (2013), a song cycle for soprano and orchestra, was ranked by music critics at ''The Guardian'' as the finest work of t ...

– String Quartet No. 4 * John Adams – ''

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 Sy ...

'', 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 '' T ...

– ''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'', for piano and chamber orchestra **''Epigrams'', for violin, cello, and piano **''Instances'', for chamber orchestra * Unsuk Chin – ''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 Musi ...

– 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 ...

– ''Acequia Madre'', for clarinet and piano *

Bruno Mantovani Bruno Mantovani (born 8 October 1974) is a French composer. He has been awarded first prizes from the Conservatoire de Paris which he joined in 1993. His work has been commissioned by the French government as well as other organizations. In Sep ...

– ''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 ...

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

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 dynamic ...

'', 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 w ...

– 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 Al ...

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 marrie ...

(76), Norwegian jazz saxophonist. ** Ruthilde Boesch (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 (d ...

(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, 20 ...

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

(

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 i ...

) * 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 E ...

(89), Norwegian composer. ;May * 4 - Adam Yauch (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 Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar, programming) ...

) * 10 – Bernardo Sassetti (41), Portuguese jazz pianist and composer. * 13 – Trond Bråthen alias "Trondr Nefas" (35), Norwegian singer and guitarist of the black metal band Urgehal * 14 – Belita Woods (63), American R&B singer ( Brainstorm) * 30 – Pete Cosey (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 (62), Australian pop-rock singer-songwriter ( Zoot,

Cotton, Lloyd & Christian Cotton, Lloyd and Christian were a soft rock trio comprising singer-songwriters Darryl Cotton from Australia, and Michael Lloyd and Chris Christian from the United States. They achieved some success in the mid-1970s. History American multi-instru ...

) ;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 ...

(88), American jazz saxophonist. ;September * 26 – Marty Fortson (67), American rock and roll singer ( The Rivieras) * 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 (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. She studied at the Mozarteum, ...

(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 ...

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