- May 9 Johann Hermann Berens, German-born Swedish Romantic composer, dies at 54
- May 10 John Goss, British organist and composer (Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven), dies at 79
- May 16 Karl August Krebs, composer, dies at 76
- May 26 John Curwen, English Congregationalist minister and founder of Tonic sol-fa music system, dies at 63
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