- Jan 6 (Franz) Xaver Scharwenka, German pianist, educator, and composer (Mataswintha), born in Samter, Grand Duchy of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia (now Szamotuły, Poland) (d. 1924)
- Jan 13 Leon Francis Victor Caron, French- Australian composer (Caron Opera Company), born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France (d. 1905)
- Jan 14 Jean de Reszke, Polish tenor, born in Warsaw, Poland (d. 1925)
- Jan 17 Alexander Sergeyevich Taneyev, Russian composer, born in St Petersburg, Russia (d. 1918)
- Feb 17 Anton Urspruch, German composer, born in Free City of Frankfurt, German Confederartion (d. 1907)
- Feb 17 Ludwig Bonvin, Swiss born composer who worked in America, born in Sierre, Switzerland (d. 1939)
- Feb 18 George Henschel, German-British baritone, pianist, conductor, and composer, born in Breslau, Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia (d. 1934)
- Mar 5 Daniel Brink Towner, American hymn composer ("He's A Friend of Mine"; "Though the Fig Tree Shall Not Blossom"), and music director, born in Rome. Pennsylvania (d. 1919)
- Mar 9 Alexandre Luigini, French violinist, conductor (Lyon Grand Théâtre, 1877-97; Opéra-Comique Paris, 1897-1906), composer (Ballet égyptien), and pedagogue, born in Lyon, France (d. 1906)
- Mar 13 Emilio Serrano y Ruiz, Spanish composer, born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain (d. 1939)
- Apr 9 Hermann Zumpe, German composer, born in Oppach, Germany (d. 1903)
- May 16 Arthur Henry Mann, English organist and composer (Kings College Cambridge, Church of England Hymnal), born in Norwich, England (d. 1929)
- May 17 Antonio Scontrino, Italian composer, born in Trapani, Italy (d. 1922)
- May 20 (Joseph) Eaton Faning, British organist and composer (The Vikings; Mock Turtles), born in Helston, Cornwall, England (d. 1927)
- May 22 Johann Schrammel, Austrian composer, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1893)
- Jun 18 Richard Heuberger, Austrian composer, critic and teacher, born in Graz, Austria (d. 1914)
- Jun 27 Jacob Adolf Hägg, Swedish composer, born in Östergarn, Sweden (d. 1928)
- Jun 29 Joseph Paul Skelly, Irish-American composer and songwriter ("I Should Say So!"; "Little Darling, Dream of Me"), born in Ireland (d. 1895)
- Jul 3 Alfredo Keil, Portuguese composer, born in Lisbon, Kingdom of Portugal (d. 1907)
- Jul 4 Ole Olsen, Norwegian composer, organist, and military bandleader, born in Hammerfest, Finnmark, Norway (d. 1927)
- Aug 5 Anton Simon, Russian composer, born in Paris, France (d. 1916)
- Sep 9 Leopoldo Miguez, Brazilian composer, born in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro (d. 1902)
- Oct 18 Francis Thome, French composer, born in Port Louis, Mauritius (d. 1909)
- Nov 8 Karel Komzák II, Bohemian-Viennese violinist, and composer of marches and dances (Bad’ner Mad’ln), born in Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) (d. 1905) [1]
- Nov 20 Arthur Goring Thomas, English composer, born in Ratton Park, Sussex, England (d. 1892)
- Dec 1 Peter Lange-Müller, Danish composer and pianist, born in Frederiksberg, Denmark (d. 1926)
- Dec 9 Emma Abbott, American soprano, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1891)
- Dec 13 Iver Holter, Norwegian conductor (Oslo Philharmonic, 1886-1911), and composer (St. Hans Kveld), born in Gausdal, Norway (d. 1941)
- Dec 21 Zdenek Fibich, Czech classical composer (Šárka, The Bride of Messina), born in Všebořice (d. 1900)
- Dec 29 Tomás Bretón, Spanish conductor and composer (La Dolores; La verbena de la Paloma), born in Salamanca, Spain (d. 1923)
Country Singers
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