1770 Friedrich Witt – German composer and cellist (d.1836); best known as the composer of the 'Jena' Symphony, once attributed to Beethoven.
1785 Friedrich Kalkbrenner – German-born French pianist, composer, piano teacher and piano manufacturer (d.1849); considered the foremost pianist in all of Europe; it was not until the late 1830's that his reputation was surpassed by Chopin, Thalberg and Liszt.
1879 first performance of Johannes Brahms's Violin Sonata No. 1 in Bonn by violinist Joseph Joachim and the composer at the piano.
1883 Sir Arnold Bax – English composer and poet (d.1953); musical style blends romanticism and impressionism with influences from Irish literature and landscape; orchestral scores are known for their complexity and colorful instrumentation; his poetry and stories (nom de plume ‘Dermot O’Byrne’) reveal his affinity with Irish poet W. B. Yeats.
1926 premiere of George Gershwin's musical Oh, Kay! at the Imperial Theater in New York; production starred Gertrude Lawrence and included the classic songs Clap Yo' Hands, Do, Do, Do and Someone to Watch Over Me.
1941 Simon Standage – English violinist, conductor (83 years old); founded the Salomon Quartet in 1981 and, nine years later Collegium Musicum 90 with conductor Richard Hickox.
1945 Judith Lang Zaimont – American pianist, performer, educator, and composer (79 years old); has done much to draw attention to the challenges of female composers.
1947 Tadaaki Otaka – Japanese/English conductor (77 years old); the first Japanese musician to be awarded the Elgar Medal, for his efforts on behalf of the music of Edward Elgar.