1938 in music
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List of years in music (table)
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Composer and jazz pianist Fats Waller in 1938

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1938.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

Top popular recordings

The twenty popular records listed below were extracted from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954,[3] record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions<
1 Chick Webb Orchestra (vocal Ella Fitzgerald) "A-Tisket, A-Tasket"[4] Decca 1840 May 2, 1938 (1938-05-02) June 1938 (1938-06) US Billboard 1938 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks, 19 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1986, 250,000 sales[5]
2 Larry Clinton and His Orchestra (Vocal Bea Wain) "My Reverie"[6] Victor 26006 July 16, 1938 (1938-07-16) August 3, 1938 (1938-08-03) US Billboard 1938 #2, US #1 for 8 weeks, 19 total weeks, 100,000 sales[5]
3 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal Edythe Wright) "Music, Maestro, Please"[7] Victor 25866 May 12, 1938 (1938-05-12) June 8, 1938 (1938-06-08) US Billboard 1938 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks, 20 total weeks
4 Artie Shaw and his Orchestra "Begin the Beguine" Bluebird 7746 July 24, 1938 (1938-07-24) August 17, 1938 (1938-08-17) US Billboard 1938 #4, US #1 for 6 weeks, 18 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1977, National Recording Registry 2012, Jazz Standards 1935
5 Horace Heidt And His Brigadiers "Ti-Pi-Tin" Brunswick 8078 February 11, 1938 (1938-02-11) March 1938 (1938-03) US Billboard 1938 #5, US #1 for 6 weeks, 13 total weeks
6 Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Martha Tilton) "Don't Be That Way" Victor 25792 February 16, 1938 (1938-02-16) March 2, 1938 (1938-03-02) US Billboard 1938 #6, US #1 for 5 weeks, 13 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987
7 The Andrews Sisters "Bei Mir Bistu Shein" Decca 1562 November 24, 1937 (1937-11-24) December 1937 (1937-12) US Billboard 1938 #7, US #1 for 5 weeks, 10 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1996, National Recording Registry 2008, 100,000 sales, 100,000 sales[8]
8 Larry Clinton and His Orchestra (Vocal Bea Wain) "Cry, Baby, Cry" Victor 25819 March 31, 1938 (1938-03-31) April 13, 1938 (1938-04-13) US Billboard 1938 #8, US #1 for 4 weeks, 25 total weeks
9 Bing Crosby "I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams" Decca 1562 July 11, 1937 (1937-07-11) July 1937 (1937-07) US Billboard 1938 #9, US #1 for 4 weeks, 17 total weeks
10 Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra "Thanks for the Memory" Bluebird 7318 November 29, 1937 (1937-11-29) December 1937 (1937-12) US Billboard 1938 #10, US #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, Jazz Standards 1938
11 Red Norvo and His Orchestra (Vocal Mildred Bailey) "Says My Heart" Brunswick 8135 April 19, 1938 (1938-04-19) May 1938 (1938-05) US Billboard 1938 #11, US #1 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks
12 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" Brunswick 8108 March 3, 1938 (1938-03-03) March 1938 (1938-03) US Billboard 1938 #12, US #1 for 3 weeks, 19 total weeks
13 Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra "Love Walked In" Vocalion 4017 March 20, 1938 (1938-03-20) April 1938 (1938-04) US Billboard 1938 #13, US #1 for 3 weeks, 16 total weeks
14 Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra "Cathedral in the Pines" Bluebird 7533 April 20, 1938 (1938-04-20) May 4, 1938 (1938-05-04) US Billboard 1938 #14, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks
15 Red Norvo and His Orchestra (Vocal Mildred Bailey) "Please Be Kind" Brunswick 8088 February 10, 1938 (1938-02-10) March 1938 (1938-03) US Billboard 1938 #15, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks
16 Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra "Rosalie" Vocalion 4017 September 7, 1938 (1938-09-07) October 1938 (1938-10) US Billboard 1938 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
17 Russ Morgan and His Orchestra "I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams" Decca 1936 July 7, 1938 (1938-07-07) August 1938 (1938-08) US Billboard 1938 #17, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
18 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra "Change Partners" Decca 2002 July 29, 1938 (1938-07-29) September 1938 (1938-09) US Billboard 1938 #18, US #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks
19 Andy Kirk and His Twelve Clouds of Joy "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)" Decca 2127 September 2, 1938 (1938-09-02) October 1938 (1938-10) US Billboard 1938 #19, US #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks
20 Bing Crosby "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" Decca 2147 October 14, 1938 (1938-10-14) November 1938 (1938-11) US Billboard 1938 #20, US #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks
21 Bing Crosby and Connee Boswell "Alexander's Ragtime Band" Decca 1887 January 26, 1938 (1938-01-26) March 1938 (1938-03) US Billboard 1938 #21, US #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks
22 Fats Waller and his Rhythm "Two Sleepy People" Bluebird 10000 October 13, 1938 (1938-10-13) November 2, 1938 (1938-11-02) US Billboard 1938 #22, US #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks
23 Fred Astaire "Change Partners" Brunswick 8189 March 24, 1938 (1938-03-24) July 1938 (1938-07) US Billboard 1938 #23, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
24 Fred Astaire "Nice Work if You Can Get It" Brunswick 7983 October 17, 1937 (1937-10-17) November 1937 (1937-11) US Billboard 1938 #24, US #1 for 1 weeks, 15 total weeks, Jazz Standards 1937
25 Larry Clinton and His Orchestra "Heart and Soul" Victor 26046 September 1, 1938 (1938-09-01) September 21, 1938 (1938-09-21) US Billboard 1938 #25, US #1 for 1 weeks, 14 total weeks, Jazz Standards 1938

Top Christmas hits

Top blues records

Published popular music

Classical music

Premieres

Composer Composition Date Location Performers
Barber, Samuel Adagio for Strings 1938-11-05 New York City NBC Symphony – Toscanini[10]
Britten, Benjamin Piano Concerto 1938-08-18 London (BBC Proms) Britten / BBC Symphony – Wood[11]
Bush, Alan Piano Concerto, with baritone and chorus 1938-03-04 London Bush, Noble / BBC Symphony – Boult[12]
Copland, Aaron An Outdoor Overture 1938-12-16 New York City High School of Music & Art Orchestra, Alexander Richter (conductor)[13]
Copland, Aaron Signature 1938-02-23 New York City High-Low Chamber Orchestra – Karman[14]
Dallapiccola, Luigi Sei cori di Michelangelo Buonarroti il giovane 1938-04-26 Prague [unknown ensemble] – Kabelác[15]
Enescu, George Piano Sonata No. 3 1938-12-06 Salle Gaveau, Paris Marcel Ciampi[16]
Ginastera, Alberto Cantos del Tucumán 1938-07-26 Buenos Aires Frías de López Buchardo, [unknown ensemble] [17]
Jolivet, André Ouverture Rondeau for four ondes Martenot, two pianos and percussion 1938-06-02 Paris Lesur, Steytler, Berthier, Breitner, Stein, Chapiro, Carasso – Evrard[18]
Jolivet, André Poèmes pour le enfant 1938-05-12 Paris Croiza / [unknown ensemble] – Désormière[19]
Jolivet, André Suite for String Trio 1938-11-24 Paris Trio Pasquier[20]
Krenek, Ernst Piano Concerto No. 2 1938-03-17 Amsterdam Krenek / Concertgebouw Orchestra – Walter[21][22]
Piston, Walter Symphony No. 1 1938-04-08 Boston Boston Symphony – Piston [23]
Revultas, Silvestre Sensemayá 1938-12-15 Mexico City [unknown orchestra] – Revueltas [24]
Rubbra, Edmund Symphony No. 2 1938-12-16 London BBC Symphony – Rubbra[25]
Schoenberg, Arnold Orchestration of Johannes Brahms' Piano Quartet 1938-05-07 Los Angeles Los Angeles Philharmonic – Klemperer[26]
Shostakovich, Dmitri String Quartet No. 1 1938-10-10 Leningrad Glazunov Quartet[27]
Shostakovich, Dmitri Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2 1938-11-28 Moscow USSR State Jazz Band[28]
Stravinsky, Igor Dumbarton Oaks Concerto 1938-05-08 Washington DC [unknown ensemble] – Boulanger[29]
Tippett, Michael Piano Sonata No. 1 1938-11-11 London Sellick[30]
Webern, Anton Das Augenlicht 1938-06-17 London (ISCM 38) BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus – Scherchen[31]

Compositions

Opera

Film

Jazz

Main article: 1938 in jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

References

  1. ^ "Colorful Fetes Mark Royal Wedding that will Link Egypt and Persian". The Meriden Daily Journal. March 13, 1939. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "Frank Walker". Variety. December 21, 1938. p. 24. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Record Research.
  4. ^ "Decca matrix 63693. A-tisket, a-tasket / Chick Webb Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Some New Highs". Variety. February 1939. p. 39. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. ^ "Victor matrix BS-024049. My reverie / Larry Clinton Orchestra; Bea Wain – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Victor matrix BS-023211. Music, maestro, please / Tommy Dorsey Orchestra; Edythe Wright – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  8. ^ "Decca Records 20th Anniversary". The Billboard: 14. August 28, 1954.
  9. ^ "photo of CD" (jpg). theatreorgans.com.
  10. ^ "Adagio for Strings" (PDF). Library of Congress.
  11. ^ "Piano Concerto, Benjamin Britten" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  12. ^ "Alan Bush Music Trust – Music – Concertos / Solo Instrument and Orchestra". www.alanbushtrust.org.uk.
  13. ^ "An Outdoor Overture, Aaron Copland" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  14. ^ "Signature, Aaron Copland" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  15. ^ "Sei cori di Michelangelo Buonarroti il giovane, Luigi Dallapiccola" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  16. ^ Elena Zottoviceanu, Adrian Rațiu, and Myriam Marbe, "Premiera Operei Oedip (1934–1936)", in George Enescu: Monografie, 2 vols., edited by Mircea Voicana, 739–876 (Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România, 1971): 750.
  17. ^ "Cantos del Tucumán, Alberto Evaristo Ginastera" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  18. ^ "Ouverture Rondeau, André Jolivet" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  19. ^ "'Poèmes pour l'enfant, André Jolivet" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  20. ^ "Suite, André Jolivet" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  21. ^ "Concerto pour piano et orchestre No. 2, Ernst Krenek" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  22. ^ "Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest 1931–1941". May 4, 2009.
  23. ^ "World Premieres: The 1900s". www.bso.org. Boston Symphony Orchestra. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  24. ^ "Chicago Symphony Orchestra" (PDF).
  25. ^ Schaarwächter, Jürgen (February 27, 2015). Two Centuries of British Symphonism: From the beginnings to 1945. A preliminary survey. With a foreword by Lewis Foreman. Volume 2. Georg Olms Verlag. ISBN 9783487152288 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ "Johannes Brahms: Klavierquartett g-Moll [original op. 25], Arnold Schoenberg" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  27. ^ "Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 1". www.quartets.de.
  28. ^ "Suite No. 2, Dimitri Chostakovitch" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  29. ^ "Concerto en mi bémol, Igor Stravinsky" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  30. ^ "Sonate No. 1, Sir Michael Tippett" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  31. ^ "Das Augenlicht, Op. 26, Anton Webern" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  32. ^ "Opera Composers: A". opera.stanford.edu.
  33. ^ The Big Broadcast of 1938 at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ Gundle, Stephen. Mussolini's Dream Factory: Film Stardom in Fascist Italy. Berghahn Books, 2013. p.153
  35. ^ Randel, Don Michael (October 30, 2002). The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Harvard University Press. p. 866. ISBN 978-0-674-25572-2.
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