Events in Music
- May 19 Camille Saint-Saëns' 3rd Symphony in C premieres at St. James Hall, London, with the composer conducting
Birthdays in Music
- May 3 Marcel Dupré, French organist and composer, born in Rouen, France (d. 1971)
- May 5 Manuel Borguno, Spanish composer and pedagogue, born in Rubí (d. 1973)
- May 8 Jef van Hoof, Flemish composer, born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1959)
- May 12 Hermann Grabner, Austrian composer (Die Richterin), born in Graz, Austria (d. 1969)
- May 13 Joseph Achron, Lithianian-American violinist and composer (Golem Suite), born in Lozdzieje, Russian Empire (now Lazdijai, Lithuania) (d. 1943)
- May 18 Ole Windingstad, Norwegian composer (The Tide), born in Sandefjord, Norway (d. 1959)
- May 24 Paul Paray, French organist, conductor (Detroit Symphony, 1951-62), and composer, born in Le Tréport, France (d. 1979)
- May 26 Al Jolson [Asa Yoelson], American-Lithuanian jazz singer and silent actor (Mamie, Swanee), born in Seredžius, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire (d. 1950)
- May 28 Nikolai Sokoloff, Russian-American violinist and conductor (Cleveland Orchestra, 1918-32; Seattle Symphony, 1938-41; co-founder & dircetor of La Jolla Music Society, 1941-65), born in Kiev, Ukraine (d. 1965)
Deaths in Music
- May 1 Heinrich Franz Daniel Stiehl, composer, dies at 56