- Jan 21 John Dowland, English composer (In Darkness We Dwell), dies at 62
- Feb 20 John Dowland, British (or Irish?) Renaissance lutenist, singer, and composer ("I saw my Lady weepe"; "Flow My Tears"), dies and is buried at 63
- May 17 Juan Pujol, Catalan composer, dies at 56
- Nov 30 Thomas Weelkes, English organist and composer of madrigals, dies at 47