May 1923 in Music History

Events in Music

Hansen's Nordic Premieres

May 30 Howard Hanson's 1st Symphony "Nordic" premieres

Birthdays in Music

  • May 2 Christina Spierenburg, Dutch singer, born in Amsterdam, Netherlands (d. 1979)
  • May 3 George Hadjinikos, Greek pianist and conductor, born in Volos, Greece (d. 2015)
  • May 4 Assi Rahbani, Lebanese musical theater composer, with his lyricist brother, Mansour (Biya el-Khawatim - The Ring Seller), born in Antelias, Lebanon (d. 1986)
  • May 4 Edward "Ed" Cassidy, American musician (Spirit), born in Harvey, Illinois (d. 2012)
  • May 7 Anne Baxter, American actress, (The Razor's Edge; All About Eve), and singer, born in Michigan City, Indiana (d. 1985)
  • May 13 (William) "Red" Garland, American jazz pianist (Miles Davis Quintet), born in Dallas, Texas (d. 1984)
  • May 15 Ellis Larkins, American classically trained (1st Black student at Peabody Institute) jazz pianist (Ruby Braff), and accompanist (Ella Fitzgerald; Eartha Kitt, Mildred Bailey), born in Baltimore Maryland (d. 2002)
  • May 15 John Lanchbery, English composer (d. 2003)
  • May 17 Peter Mennin [Mennini], American composer (Moby Dick; The Cycle), and educator (Juilliard, 1962-83), born in Erie, Pennsylvania (d. 1983)
  • May 18 Liam Sullivan, American singer and actor (Star Trek, The Magic Sword, Monroes), born in Jacksonville, Illinois (d. 1998)
  • May 21 Doris Mae Akers, American gospel singer-songwriter (Sky Pilot Choir - Sweet, Sweet Spirit), born in Brookfield, Missouri (d. 1995)
  • May 23 Alicia de Larrocha, Spanish pianist (Orquesta Sinfonica), born in Barcelona, Spain (d. 2009)
  • May 28 Gyorgy Ligeti, Hungarian classical composer (Le Grand Macabre), born in Transylvania, Romania (d. 2006)
  • May 29 Eugene Wright, American jazz bassist (The Dave Brubeck Quartet), sometimes known as "The Senator", born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2020) [1]

Weddings in Music

Marlene Dietrich

May 17 Actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (21) weds assistant director Rudolf Sieber (26) in Berlin, Germany

Deaths in Music

  • May 30 Camille Chevillard, French composer, dies at 63