- Jan 6 Franz Xaver Murschhauser, German composer and theorist, dies at 74
- Jan 17 Jean-François Dandrieu, French Baroque organist, harpsichord player, and composer, dies at about 56 [birth date uncertain]
- Feb 5 Georg Reidel, German composer, dies at 61
- Feb 12 James Sherard, English amateur composer, dies at 71
- Mar 25 Turlough O'Carolan, Irish harper and composer (b. 1670)
- Jul 15 Antonio Maria Pacchioni, Baroque composer, dies at 84
- Aug 29 Georg Reutter, Austrian composer and organist, dies at 81
- Dec 13 Gotthard Wagner, German composer, dies at 59
- Dec 22 Jean-Joseph Mouret, French composer, dies at 56