Events
The "Concert des Amateurs" is founded by François-Joseph Gossec. Ballet is performed the first time in Oslo by Madame Stuart. Musikalisches Vielerley is published; a collection of pieces from various composers, edited by CPE Bach. (Hamburg: Michael Christian Bock)
Classical music
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – Fantasia in D minor, H.224
Johann Christian Bach
6 Keyboard Concertos, Op. 7
6 Quartets, Op. 8
Luigi Boccherini – Cello Concerto in D major, G.479
Joseph Haydn – Baryton Trio in A major, Hob.XI:2
Gabriele Leone – Six sonatas for mandolin and bass marked with signs according to the new method, Op. 2 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony 11 Pietro Nardini – Sonatas for 2 Flutes/Violins and Basso Continuo
Methods and theory writings
Johann Caspar Heck – The Art of Playing the Harpsichord
John Holden – An Essay Towards a Rational System of Music
Operas
Christoph Willibald Gluck – Paride ed Elena, Wq.39
Published popular music
William Billings – The New England Psalm Singer, featuring the song Chester.
Births
February 18 – Christian Heinrich Rinck, composer (died 1846) February 20 – Ferdinando Carulli, composer (died 1841) February 22 – Jan Matyas Nepomuk August Vitasek, composer (died 1839) February 26 – Antoine Reicha, composer (died 1836) May 19 – Antoine-Charles Glachant, violinist and composer (died 1851) June 4 – James Hewitt, composer (died 1827) November 8 – Friedrich Witt, composer (died 1836) November 29 – Peter Hänsel, composer December 13 – John Clarke-Whitfeld, composer (died 1836) December 15 or December 16 (baptized on December 17) – Ludwig van Beethoven, composer and pianist (died 1827) December 17 – Johann Friedrich Schubert, composer