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.
1970
June 4 – Two Pieces for cello and piano by Anton Webern (1883-1945) was first performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 16 – Heino Eller (1887-1970) died in Tallinn, Estonia
July 4 – Sinfonietta for String Orchestra by William Alwyn (1905-1985) was first performed in Cheltenham, England
1971
February 8 – King Lear, with film score (op. 137) by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), was released
March 1 – Thomas Adès (1971-) was born in London, England
April 6 – Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) died in New York, New York
1972
Robert Farnon (1917-2005) completed Colditz March
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1929-2016) completed Pelimannit (“The Fiddlers”), for string orchestra
Annette Bartholdy (1972-) was born in Bern, Switzerland
January 8 – Symphony No. 15 in A major, op. 141 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Moscow, Russia
March 2 – Sonata for String Orchestra by William Walton (1902-1983) was first performed in Perth, Australia
April 3 – Ferde Grofé (1892-1972) died in Santa Monica, California
October 5 – A Ring of Time by Dominick Argento (1927-2019) was first performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 15 – Symphony No. 10 in F♯ major (Cooke II) by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was first performed in London, England
October 18 – Cantus Arcticus, Concerto for Birds and Orchestra, by Einojuhani Rautavaara (1929-2016) was first performed in Oulu, Finland
1973
Alan Hovhaness (1911-2000) completed Concerto for Harp and String Orchestra, op. 267
February 25 – Amanda Harberg (1973-) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 21 – Lera Auerbach (1973-) was born in Chelyabinsk, Russia
1974
February 15 – Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974) died in Stockholm, Sweden
April 12 – Snowflakes Are Dancing, with music by Claude Debussy as electronically realized by Isao Tomita (1932-2016), was released
November 15 – String Quartet No. 15 in E♭ minor, op. 144 by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was first performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia
1975
April – Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky as electronically realized by Isao Tomita (1932-2016) was released
May 18 – Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) died in Woodbury, Connecticut
August 9 – Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) died in Moscow, Russia
September 5 – Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Claude Debussy and Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky as electronically realized by Isao Tomita (1932-2016) was released
1976
December 4 – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) died in Aldeburgh, England
1977
Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) completed Sonatina para dos Muñecas (Sonatina for two Puppets), for piano four hands
March 14 – Gyula Dávid (1913-1977) died in Budapest, Hungary
May 25 – Star Wars, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
June – The Beatles Concerto, for two pianos and orchestra, by John Rutter (1945-) was first performed in London, England
September 3 – Marjatta, Lowly Maiden, a Finnish Mystery Play, by Einojuhani Rautavaara (1929-2016) was first performed in Espoo, Finland
September 13 – Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) died in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England
October 23 – Piano Quartet by William Bolcom (1938-) was first performed in New York, New York
November 14 – Richard Addinsell (1904-1977) died in London, England
November 16 – Close Encounters of the Third Kind, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1978
Hanget soi (“Singing Snow”), for children’s chorus, by Heikki Sarmanto (1939-) [Arranged by Auvo Sarmanto (1935-)] was published
January 29 – Peter Schickele (1935-2024) [P.D.Q. Bach] completed “Twelve Quite Heavenly Songs”
March 27 – A la busca del más allá “In search of the beyond” by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999) was first performed in Houston, Texas
May 1 – Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) died in Moscow, Russia
December 3 – William Grant Still (1895-1978) died in Los Angeles, California
December 10 – Superman, with film score by John Williams (1932-), was released
1979
April 10 – Nino Rota (1911-1979) died in Rome, Italy
September 7 – Peter Schickele (1935-2024) [P.D.Q. Bach] completed “Liebeslieder Polkas”
October 1 – Roy Harris (1898-1979) died in Santa Monica, California
December 7 – Star Trek: The Motion Picture, with film score by Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004), was released
December 30 – Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) died in New York, New York