October 2, 1920 - Composer Max Bruch died in Friedensau, near Berlin, Germany. He wrote choral and orchestral works and he is most known for his violin concertos.
October 3 - On this day in 1829, composer Fanny Mendelssohn married Wilhelm Hensel; a painter. They had one son; Sebastian, named after Fanny's favorite composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Also on this day in 1931, composer Carl Nielsen died in Copenhagen due to heart ailment. He is primarily known for his symphonies. And on this day in 1989, Tracy Chapman's second album, Crossroads was released.
October 4, 1970 - Janis Joplin, singer-songwriter and lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company died in Los Angeles, California.
October 5 - On this day in 1880, Jacques Offenbach died in Paris, France. His opera Les Contes d’Hoffmann, which was based on E.T.A. Hoffman's stories, was left unfinished when he died. Also on this day in 1940, Silvestre Revueltas died in Mexico City due to pneumonia. He is known for his distinctive harmonies and rhythmic structures.
October 6, 1820 - Jenny Lind was born in Klara, Stockholm. She was referred to as the "Swedish Nightingale". Her first major performance was in 1838 in the role of Agathe in Carl Maria von Weber's Der Freischütz.
October 7, 1955 - Yo-Yo Ma was born in Paris, France. In 1991, he received an honorary doctorate in music from Harvard and in 2004, his album, Obrigado Brazil, received a Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album.
October 8, 1585 - Heinrich Schütz was born in Kostritz, Saxony (Germany). He wrote Italian madrigals, an opera, vocal and instrumental works. Unfortunately, many of his works are either lost or destroyed.
October 9, 1835 - Camille Saint-Saëns was born in Rue du Jardin, Paris, France. In 1871, he, along with other composers including Gabriel Fauré, established the Société Nationale de Musique which endeavored to promote French music.
october 10 - On this day in 1813, Giuseppe Verdi was born in Roncole (La Roncola) in Italy. He is famous for the themes of freedom, heroism, love and liberty which is evident in his works. Also on this day in 1928, vocalist Leyla Gencer was born in Turkey. She made her debut in 1950 in Cavalleria Rusticana as Santuzza. She is especially known for her interpretation of Gaetano Donizetti's works.
October 11 - On this day in 1896, Anton Bruckner died in Vienna. His "Symphony No. 7 in E Major," which premiered in Leipzig in 1884, was a huge success and marked a turning point in his career. Also on this day in 1963, Edith Piaf died in Paris. She is especially known for her interpretation of French ballads (chansons). And on this day in 2010, Dame Joan Sutherland died in Les Avants, Switzerland. She earned the nickname "La Stupenda" after her well-received performance in La Scala, Milan.
October 12 - On this day in 1872, Ralph Vaughan Williams was born in Down Ampney, England. He collected English folk songs and these greatly influenced his compositions. Also on this day in 1935, Luciano Pavarotti was born in Modena, Italy. He was a school teacher before he decided to dedicate his life to singing.
October 13, 1979 - Composer Rebecca Clarke died in New York. She is especially known for her chamber music; she also wrote songs and solo pieces. Many of her works remain unpublished.
October 14, 1990 - Composer Leonard Bernstein died in New York. His "Mass" was performed in 1971 during the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
October 15, 1964 - Cole Porter died in Santa Monica, California. He was a composer/lyricist who influenced American musical theater. His musicals include Fifty Million Frenchmen, The Gay Divorce, Anything Goes, and Kiss Me Kate.
Special Celebrations in October
CD Player Day - October 1
Universal Music Day - 2nd Saturday of October
iPod Day - October 23