Events

Classical music

Thomas Arne
- The Death of Abel (oratorio)
- Judith (first performed, published 1761)
Johann Sebastian Bach – Das wohltemperierte Klavier, part 2
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- Keyboard Sonata in E major, H.39
- Harpsichord Concerto in F major, H.415
- Harpsichord Concerto in E major, H.417
Michele Blavet – Premier recueil de pieces
Michael Christian Festing – 6 Violin Sonatas, Op.7
Christoph Graupner
- Trio Sonata in C minor, GWV 203
- Trio Sonata in D major, GWV 204
- Sonata in G major, GWV 212
- Trio Sonata in B minor, GWV 219
- Concerto for 2 Flutes in E minor, GWV 322
- Concerto for 2 Horns in G major, GWV 332
- Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, GWV 340
Johann Adolph Hasse – 6 Flute Sonatas, Op. 5
Johann Ludwig Krebs
- Clavier-Übung I, Krebs-WV 500-512
- Clavier-Übung II, Krebs-WV 800
- Clavier-Übung III, Krebs-WV 801-806
Etienne Mangean – 6 Sonatas for 2 Violins, Op. 3
Niccolò Pasquali – 6 Sonatas for Violin, Op. 1
John Frederick Ranish – 12 Flute Sonatas, Op. 2
Johan Helmich Roman – Drottningholm Music (Music for a Royal Wedding)
Domenico Natale Sarro – Recorder Sonata in F major
Georg Phillip Telemann – Jauchzet, ihr Himmel, TWV 1:957
Francesco Maria Veracini
- L'errore di Salomone (oratorio)
- 12 Sonate accademiche, Op. 2 (for violin)
Jan Dismas Zelenka
- Litaniae Lauretanae, ZWV 151
- Litaniae Lauretanae, ZWV 152

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – 6 Harpsichord Sonatas, Wq.49 (Nuremberg: Johann Ulrich Haffner) (composed 1742-44)
Delphin Strungk (some copies were made in this year, though the composer died in 1694)
- Lass mich dein sein und bleiben
- Meine Seele erhebt den Herren

May 3 – Friedrich Wilhelm Weis, composer
May 4 – Marianna Martines, singer, pianist and composer (d. 1812)
May 18 – Joseph Beer, composer and clarinetist (died 1812)
May 19 – Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, regular patron of Mozart's (died 1818)
August 4 – Julije Bajamonti (died 1800)
August 25 – Johann Gottfried Herder, librettist and philosopher (died 1803)
November 26 – Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff (died 1785)
December 8 – Pierre-Joseph Candeille, French composer (died 1827)
date unknown
- Marie Barch, first native Danish ballerina (d. 1827)
- Gaetano Brunetti, Italian composer (died 1798)
- Francesco Petrini, composer and musician (died 1819)
- Charles le Picq, French dancer and choreographer (d. 1806)

January 14 – Charles-Hubert Gervais, composer (born 1671)
January 20 – Richard Jones, violinist and composer
February 15 – František Václav Míča, conductor and composer (born 1694)
March 22 – Georg Lenck, German musician (born 1685)
April 26 – Domenico Sarro, Italian composer (born 1679)
May 9 – Johann Samuel Beyer (born 1669)
May 30 – Alexander Pope, English poet (born 1688)
June 29 – André Campra, composer (born 1660)
August 19 – Carlo Arrigoni (born 1697)
October 17 – Giuseppe Guarneri, violin-maker (born 1698)
October 23 – Pierre-Charles Roy, librettist and poet (born 1683)
October 31 – Leonardo Leo, composer (born 1694)
December 29 – Pompeo Cannicciari (born 1670)
date unknown
- Claude Balon, dancer and choreographer
- Gennaro Antonio Federico, Italian librettist
- James Miller, librettist and playwright (born 1704)
- Francesca Vanini-Boschi, operatic contralto