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.
1960
James Moody (1907-1995) completed Little Suite for Harmonica and Orchestra
February 9 – Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) died in New York, New York
May 8 – Hugo Alfvén (1872-1960) died in Falun, Sweden
October 2 – String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, op. 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia
1961
January 21 – Gloria by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was first performed in Boston, Massachusetts
February 20 – Percy Grainger (1882-1961) died in White Plains, New York
October 1 – Symphony No. 12 in D minor, op. 112, “The Year 1917” by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Samara, Russia
October 22 – Atmosphères by György Ligeti (1923-2006) was first performed in Donaueschingen, Germany
December 30 – Symphony No. 4 in C minor, op. 43 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
1962
William Grant Still (1895-1978) completed Vignettes, for oboe, bassoon, and piano
Thomas Bloch [aka Johann Julius Sontag von Holt Sombach] (1962-) was born in Colmar, France
January 29 – Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962) died in New York, New York
December 31 – Jennifer Higdon (1962-) was born in Brooklyn, New York
1963
Timothy Brock (1963-) was born in the USA [date and location unknown]
January 30 – Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) died in Paris, France
March 8 – Variations on a Theme by Hindemith by William Walton (1902-1983) was first performed in London, England
October 3 – Violin Concerto, op. 30 by Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) was first performed in New York, New York
1964
Nino Rota (1911-1979) completed 15 Preludes for piano
November 20 – String Quartet No. 9 in E♭ major, op. 117 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
November 20 – String Quartet No. 10 in A♭ major, op. 118 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
1965
March 14 – Requiem by György Ligeti (1923-2006) was first performed in Stockholm, Sweden
June 18 – George Melachrino (1909-1965) died in London, England
July 15 – Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), was first performed in New York, New York
1966
Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006) completed Four Cornish Dances, op. 91
January 20 – Ralph Greaves (1889-1966) died in Tonbridge, Kent, England
March 19 – Symphony No. 3, op. 57 by Ruth Gipps (1921-1999) was first performed in London, England
November 28 – Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966) died in New York, New York
1967
Rudolf Barshai (1924-2010) completed the arrangement of String Quartet No. 8 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), approved by the composer, and known as the Chamber Symphony, op. 110a
March 6 – Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967) died in Budapest, Hungary
July 30 – Concierto Madrigal by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Los Angeles, California
October 22 – Lontano by György Ligeti (1923-2006) was first performed in Donaueschingen, Germany
November 18 – Concierto Andaluz by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in San Antonio, Texas
1968
March 16 – Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968) died in Beverly Hills, California
April 15 – Borys Lyatoshynsky (1895-1968) died in Kyiv, Ukraine
May 30 – Anadyomene (Adoration of Aphrodite) by Einojuhani Rautavaara (1929-2016) was first performed in Helsinki, Finland
1969
March 6 – Trombone Concerto in C major by Nino Rota (1911-1979) was first performed in Milan, Italy
September 29 – Symphony No. 14 in G minor, op. 135 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia