- Jan 4 Iosif Kotek, Russian composer and violinist, dies at 29
- Feb 15 Leopold Damrosch, German-American composer, and conductor (New York Oratorio Society; New York Symphony), dies at 52
- Feb 18 Charlotte Sainton-Dolby, English contralto and composer, dies at 61
- Mar 28 Fredrick Vilhelm Ludvig Norman, Swedish composer, dies at 53
- Mar 31 Franz W Abbot, German composer/choir conductor, dies at 65
- Mar 31 Philipp Fahrbach the Elder, Austrian composer, dies at 69
- Apr 23 William Henry Holmes, English composer, dies at 73
- May 5 Lauro Rossi, Italian composer (I falsi monetari), dies at 73
- May 8 Pavel Křížkovský, Czech choral composer and conductor (Sts. Cyril and Methodius), dies at 65
- May 10 Edward Stephen, Welsh musician and composer, dies at 62
- May 10 Ferdinand Hiller, German pianist, composer and conductor, dies at 73
- May 21 Gavril Yakimovich Lomakin, Russian composer and teacher, dies at 73
- Jun 5 Julius Benedict, German opera composer (Protoghesi), dies at 80
- Jun 22 Mahdi [Muhammad Ahmed], Sudanese music reviewer, dies
- Jul 7 Nicola De Giosa, Italian composer, dies at 66
- Jul 8 Henry Waelput, Flemish compose and conductor (Blessing of Arms), dies at 39
- Aug 28 Julius Hopp, Austrian composer, dies at 66
- Sep 13 Friedrich Kiel, Austrian composer, and mountain climber, dies at 63
- Sep 15 Juliusz Zarębski, Polish pianist, composer, and pedagogue, dies of tuberculosis at 31
- Oct 30 Gustav Merkel, German organist (Dresden Cathedral, 1864-85), composer, and pedagogue (Dresden Conservatory), dies at 57