- Jan 1 Johann Christian Bach (English Bach), German composer and 11th son of Johann Sebastian Bach, dies at 46
- Mar 19 Louis-Henry Paisible, French composer, dies at 33
- Apr 6 Rynoldus Popma van Oevering, Dutch composer, dies at 90
- Apr 12 Metastasio, Italian poet and librettist (b. 1698)
- Apr 22 Josef Seger [Segert], Czech composer, organist, and educator, dies at 66
- May 20 Carlo Giovanni Testori, Italian violinist, composer, pedagogue, and musicologist (La musica raggionata), dies at 68
- May 20 Christoph Gottlieb Schröter, German organist (St Nikola Church, Nordhausen, 1732-82), composer, and inventor of the tangent piano, dies at 82
- Jul 15 Farinelli [Carlo Broschi], Italian castrato (considered one of the great opera singers), dies at 77
- Jul 15 Robert Wainwright, English composer and church organist, dies at 33
- Jul 21 Placidus Cajetan von Camerloher, German composer, dies at 63
- Oct 23 Joseph Riepel, Austrian-born German composer, dies at 73
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