- Jan 13 Vasily Kalinnikov, Russian composer influenced by folksong, born in Voina, Russia (d. 1901)
- Feb 5 Rossetter Gleason Cole, American composer (Heroes of Freedom), born in Clyde, Michigan (d. 1952)
- Feb 10 Bror Beckman, Swedish composer, born in Kristinehamn, Sweden (d. 1929)
- Feb 16 Johann Strauss III, Austrian composer and conductor (Dem Muthigen gehört die Welt), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 1939)
- Mar 10 Amanda Aldridge, British opera singer, pianist, teacher, and composer of parlour songs and light orchestral pieces music, born in Upper Norwood, London, England (d. 1956)
- Mar 18 Dumitru Kiriac-Georgescu, Romanian composer known for sacred choral works, and ethnomusicologist, born in Bucharest, Romanian United Principalities (d. 1928)
- Apr 1 Ferruccio Busoni, Italian piano prodigy, composer (Fantasia Contrappuntistica; Arlecchino), conductor, and pedagogue, born in Empoli, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1924)
- Apr 20 Victor Hollaender, German composer, born in Leobschutz, Silesia (d. 1940)
- May 13 Ottokar Eugen Novacek, Hungarian composer and violinist of Czech descent, born in Weißkirchen, Austrian Empire (d. 1900)
- May 17 Erik Satie, French composer (Gymnopédies), born in Honfleur, Normandy (d. 1925)
- May 31 Vladimir Rebikov, Russian pianist and composer, born in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia (d. 1920)
- Jul 23 Francesco Cilea, Italian orchestral and opera composer (L'arlesiana; Adriana Lecouvreur), born in Palmi< Calabria, Kingdom of Italy (d. 1950)
- Aug 5 Alfred Holy, Portuguese composer and harpist (German Opera - Prague, 1885–96); Berlin Royal Opera, 1896–1903, Vienna Court Opera, 1903–13; Boston Symphony, 1913-28), born in Oporto, Portugal (d. 1948)
- Sep 10 Tor Aulin, Swedish composer, born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 1914)
- Sep 20 Gustave Doret, Swiss composer, born in Aigle, Switzerland (d. 1943)
- Sep 23 Édouard Combe, Swiss composer, born in Aigle, Switzerland (d. 1942)
- Oct 3 Learmont Drysdale, Scottish composer, born in Edinburgh, Scotland (d. 1909)
- Oct 6 Reginald Fessenden, Canadian-American inventor and radio pioneer - reputedly broadcast 1st program of voice and music, born in East Bolton, Quebec (d. 1932)
- Oct 19 Clarence Lucas, Canadian composer, librettist, conductor, and music professor, born in Six Nations Reserve, Ontario (d. 1947)
- Oct 25 Georg Alfred Schumann, German composer, born in Königstein, Saxony, Germany (d. 1952)
- Nov 5 Daniel Protheroe, Welsh conductor and composer, born in Ystradgynlais, Brecknockshire, Wales (d. 1934)
- Nov 7 Paul Lincke, German composer and theater conductor considered the "father" of the Berlin operetta (Frau Luna, Lysistrata), born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany) (d. 1946)
- Nov 29 Waldemar von Baussnern, German composer, born in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia (now Germany) (d. 1931)
Harry Burleigh (1866-1949)
Dec 2 African American baritone and composer (Five Songs of Laurence Hope), and Springarn Medal winner (1917), born in Erie, Pennsylvania
- Dec 22 Mieczyslaw Surzynski, Polish organ virtuoso and composer (1904 Organ Concerto), born in Środa, Poland (d. 1924)
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