- Feb 2 Jules François Blasini, Curaçaon-Corsican pianist and composer, born in Dutch Colony of Curaçao (d. 1887)
- Feb 7 Ernst Franck, German composer and conductor, born in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria (d. 1889)
- Feb 15 Robert Fuchs, Austrian composer, and teacher (Vienna Conservatory, 1875-1912), born in Frauental, Austria (d. 1927)
- Feb 16 (Ludwig) Philipp Scharwenka, German pianist, composer (Sakuntala; Album polonaise), and educator, born in Samter, Grand Duchy of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (now of Szamotuły, Poland) (d. 1917)
- Mar 19 Constantin Dimitrescu, Romanian composer (Dans ţănănesc), born in Blejoi, Romania (d. 1928)
- Mar 20 Gavriil Musicescu, Romainian composer, born in Izmail, Bessarabia Governorate, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1903)
- Mar 31 Jarolslaw Zielinski, Polish-American concert pianist, teacher, and composer, born in Lubycza Królewska, Poland (d. 1922)
- Apr 9 Francis William Davenport, English composer, born in Wilderslowe, Derby, England (d. 1925)
- Apr 9 Paolo Tosti, Italian composer, born in Ortona, Italy (d. 1916)
- Apr 10 Charles Swinnerton Heap, English composer, born in Birmingham, England (d. 1900)
- May 13 Johannes Haarklou, Norwegian organist, composer, and educator, born in Haukedalen, Norway (d. 1925)
- May 25 Alphonse Goovaerts, Belgian composer and musicologist (Histoire et Bibliographie de la Typographie Musicale dans les Pays-Bas), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1922)
- Jun 24 Gaston Salvayre, French composer, born in Toulouse, France (d. 1916)
- Jun 28 Sveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson, Icelandic composer (Lofsöngur - National Anthem of Iceland), born in Seltjarnarnes, Iceland (d. 1927)
- Jul 5 Agnes Zimmermann, German composer, born in Cologne, Germany (d. 1925)
- Jul 31 Ignatio Cervantes, Cuban pianist and composer (Danzas Cubanas), born in Havana (d. 1905)
- Aug 1 Guido Papini, Italian violinist and composer, born in Camaiore, Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1912)
- Aug 22 Alexander Campbell Mackenzie, Scottish composer, born in Edinburgh (d. 1935)
- Sep 13 Charles Dupee Blake, American composer, born in Walpole, Massachusetts (d. 1903)
- Sep 16 Albert Ross Parsons, American composer, born in Sandusky, Ohio (d. 1933)
- Oct 10 Gheorghe Dima, Romanian composer, born in Șcheii Brașovului, Romania (d. 1925)
- Oct 21 Giuseppe Giacosa, Italian playwright, poet, and librettist (Puccini's "La bohème", "Tosca", and "Madama Butterfly"), born in Colleretto Parella, Kingdom of Sardinia (now Italy) (d. 1906)
- Nov 1 Emma Albani, Canadian operatic soprano, born in Chambly, United Province of Canada (d. 1930)
- Nov 30 August Klughardt, German composer, born in Köthen, Germany (d. 1902)
- Dec 1 Agathe Backer Grøndahl, Norwegian pianist, composer, and teacher, born in Holmestrand, Norway (d. 1907)
- Dec 16 Augusta Holmes, Irish-French pianist and composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1903)
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