Birthdays in Music May 1 Charles Lee Williams, English composer and organist, born in Winchester (d. 1935) May 26 Monroe Althouse, American composer, born in Centre Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania (d. 1924) May 30 Karl Valentin, Swedish composer, born in Gothenburg, Sweden (d. 1918) Deaths in Music May 9 Johann Philipp Samuel Schmidt, German composer, dies at 73 1852 Music History by Year 1854 1853 in Music History Steinway & Sons Piano March 5, 1853