This is one of a series of postings of important classical music dates, from the 17th century to the present. Included are the date and location of the birth and death of composers, and the premiere date and location of the first public performance of works. When the premiere date and location is unknown, the date or year of completion of the work is given. Though reasonably comprehensive, this is a subjective list, so the choice of composers and works is mine. If you find any errors, or if you can offer a premiere date and location for a work where only the completion date or year is listed, please post a comment here.
1980
January 17 – Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed (In Memoriam: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) by Adolphus Hailstork (1941-) was first performed in Baltimore, Maryland
May 6 – The Empire Strikes Back, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
December 24 – Alec Wilder (1907-1980) died in Gainesville, Florida
1981
January 23 – Samuel Barber (1910-1981) died in New York, New York
February 1 – Geirr Tveitt (1908-1981) died in Oslo, Norway
February 26 – Howard Hanson (1896-1981) died in Rochester, New York
June 12 – Raiders of the Lost Ark, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1982
May 26 – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1983
March 8 – William Walton (1902-1983) died in La Mortella, Italy
May 1 – Cypresses, for voice and piano, B11 by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) was first performed in Prague, Czech Republic
May 25 – Return of the Jedi, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
June 25 – Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) died in Geneva, Switzerland
1984
June 8 – Gordon Jacob (1895-1984) died in Saffron Walden, Essex, England
July 18 – Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams (1932-) was first performed in Los Angeles, California
1985
April 30 – “1712 Overture” by [P.D.Q. Bach] Peter Schickele (1935-2024) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts
September 11 – William Alwyn (1905-1985) died in Southwold, England
October 13 – Requiem by John Rutter (1945-) was first performed in Dallas, Texas
1986
Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) completed Four Irish Dances, op. 126
January 22 – Ilse Fromm-Michaels (1888-1986) died in Detmold, Germany
November 15 – Alexandre Tansman (1897-1986) died in Paris, France
December 27 – Lars-Erik Larsson (1908-1986) died in Helsingborg, Sweden
1987
Krasimir Kyurkchiyski (1936-2011) completed Kalmankou Denkou (The Evening Gathering), for a cappella Bulgarian female choir, this year or before
February 14 – Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987) died in Moscow, Russia
December 11 – Empire of the Sun, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1988
November 28 – Atardecer (Dusk), for piano four hands, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Madrid, Spain
1989
September 30 – Virgil Thomson (1896-1989) died in New York, New York
December 20 – Born on the Fourth of July, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1990s→