1940 in music

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List of years in music (table)
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1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
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1943
In television
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
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1943
In film
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1943
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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1940.

Contents

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records' chart during 1940. Each week fifteen points were awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on. The total points a record earned determined its year-end rank. Regional charts determined the 11–25 rankings each week, and records that failed to score on the main chart were ranked by highest position. Additional information was obtained from the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954 [3] and other sources as specified.

RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedReleasedChart positions
1 Artie Shaw and His Orchestra "Frenesi" [4] Victor 26542March 3, 1940March 29, 1940US BB 1940 #1, US #1 for 13 weeks, 29 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000, 1,000,000 sold [5]
2 Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra "I'll Never Smile Again" [6] Victor 26628April 23, 1940June 7, 1940US BB 1940 #2, US #1 for 12 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold [5]
3 Bing Crosby "Only Forever" [7] Decca 3300July 3, 1940August 1940US BB 1940 #3, US #1 for 9 weeks, 22 total weeks
4 Glenn Miller and his Orchestra "Tuxedo Junction" [8] Bluebird 10612February 5, 1940February 23, 1940US BB 1940 #4, US #1 for 9 weeks, 19 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold [5]
5Glenn Miller and his Orchestra"The Woodpecker Song" [9] Bluebird 10598January 29, 1940February 9, 1940US BB 1940 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks
6Glenn Miller and his Orchestra"When You Wish Upon a Star" [10] Bluebird 10570January 6, 1940January 19, 1940US BB 1940 #6, US #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks
7Glenn Miller and his Orchestra"Careless"Bluebird 10520November 18, 1939December 8, 1939US BB 1940 #7, US #1 for 5 weeks, 13 total weeks
8Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Leonard)"All the Things You Are" [11] Victor 26401October 20, 1939November 3, 1939US BB 1940 #8, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
9Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Leonard)"Indian Summer" [12] Victor 26390September 27, 1939October 20, 1939US BB 1940 #9, US #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks
10Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle)"Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)" [13] Bluebird 10728March 31, 1940May 24, 1940US BB 1940 #10, US #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks
11 Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Mildred Bailey)"Darn That Dream"Columbia 35331December 3, 1939January 4, 1940US BB 1940 #11, US #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks
12 The Ink Spots "Maybe" [14] Decca 3258June 11, 1940July 1940US BB 1940 #12, US #2 for 6 weeks, 17 total weeks
13Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle)"Blueberry Hill" [15] Bluebird 10768June 13, 1940July 1940US BB 1940 #13, US #2 for 4 weeks, 19 total weeks
14 Will Bradley and His Orchestra Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar Columbia 35530May 21, 1940June 28, 1940US BB 1940 #14, US #2 for 1 week, 21 total weeks
15Bing Crosby"Trade Winds"Decca 3299March 19, 1940April 1940US BB 1940 #15, US #2 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks
16 Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra The Breeze and I [16] Decca 3150April 18, 1940May 1940US BB 1940 #16, US #2 for 6 weeks, 11 total weeks, 1,000,000 sold [5]
17The Ink Spots"We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" [17] Decca 3379July 16, 1940September 1940US BB 1940 #17, US #3 for 1 week, 15 total weeks
18Bing Crosby"Sierra Sue"Decca 3133March 22, 1940April 1940US BB 1940 #18, US #3 for 1 week, 14 total weeks
19 Bob Crosby and His Orchestra "With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair" [18] Decca 3018February 13, 1940March 1940US BB 1940 #19, US #2 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks
20 Tony Martin "It's a Blue World" [19] Decca 2932December 19, 1939January 1940US BB 1940 #20, US #2 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
21Glenn Miller and His Orchestra (Vocal Ray Eberle)"Say It" [20] Bluebird 10631February 24, 1940March 8, 1940US BB 1940 #21, US #2 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks

Classical music

Premieres

ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Britten, Benjamin Les Illuminations 1940-01-30London Wyss / Neel String Orchestra – Neel [22]
Britten, Benjamin Violin Concerto 1940-03-29New York City Brosa / New York Philharmonic – Barbirolli [23]
Carpenter, John Alden Symphony No. 1 (2nd version)1940-10-24Chicago Chicago Symphony – Stock [24]
Chávez, Carlos Xochipilli-Macuilxóchitl 1940-05-16 Museum of Modern Art, New York CityEnsemble – Chávez
Creston, Paul Symphony No. 1 1940-02-22New York City NYA Symphony – Mahler [25]
Ginastera, Alberto Malambo for piano 1940-09-11Montevideo, Uruguay Balzo [26]
Ginastera, Alberto Three Pieces for Piano 1940-10-16Montevideo, Uruguay Balzo [27]
Hartmann, Karl Amadeus Concerto funebre 1940-02-29St. Gallen, Switzerland Neracher / St. Gallen Chamber Orchestra – Klug [28]
Hindemith, Paul Violin Concerto (1939)1940-03-14Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra
Khachaturian, Aram Violin Concerto 1940-11-16Moscow Oistrakh / USSR State Symphony – Gauk [29]
Krenek, Ernst Little Concerto for Piano, Organ and Chamber Orchestra 1940-05-23Poughkeepsie, New York Williams, Geer / Vassar Orchestra – Krenek [30]
Krenek, Ernst Symphonisches Stück 1940-06-11Basel Basel Chamber Orchestra – Sacher [31]
Larsson, Lars-Erik God in Disguise 1940-04-01Stockholm Torlind, Hasslo, Molander / Swedish Radio Symphony – Larsson [32]
Lilburn, Douglas Aotearoa , overture1940-04-15London Sadler's Welles Orchestra – Braithwaite [33]
Milhaud, Darius Symphony No. 1 1940-10-17Chicago Chicago Symphony – Milhaud [34]
Myaskovsky, Nikolai Symphony No. 20 1940-11-28Moscow USSR Radio Symphony – Golovanov [35]
Piston, Walter Violin Concerto No. 1 1940-03-18New York City Posselt / National Orchestral Association – Barzin [36]
Price, Florence Symphony No. 3 (Price) 1940-11-06Little Rock, USDetroit Civic Orchestra – Valter Poole [37]
Prokofiev, Sergei Piano Sonata No. 6 1940-04-08MoscowProkofiev [38]
Rodrigo, Joaquín Concierto de Aranjuez 1940-11-09Barcelona Saenz de la Maza / Barcelona Philharmonic – Mendoza-Lasalle [39]
Schoenberg, Arnold Chamber Symphony No. 2 1940-12-15New York City Friends of New Music Orchestra – Stiedry [40]
Schoenberg, Arnold Violin Concerto (finished 1936)1940-12-06Philadelphia Krasner / Philadelphia Orchestra – Stokowski [41]
Shostakovich, Dmitri Piano Quintet 1940-11-23MoscowShostakovich, Beethoven Quartet [42]
Shostakovich, Dmitri Four Romances on Verses by Pushkin 1940-12-08Moscow Baturin, Shostakovich [43]
Strauss, Richard Japanese Festival Music 1940-12-14Tokyo Tokyo Broadcast Orchestra – Fellmer [44]
Stravinsky, Igor Symphony in C 1940-11-07Chicago Chicago Symphony – Stravinsky [45]
Tippett, Michael Concerto for Double String Orchestra 1940-04-21London South London Orchestra – Tippett [46]
Webern, Anton Fünf Lieder , Op. 4 (1909)1940-02-10Basel, Switzerland Gradmann-Lüscher, Schmid [47]

Compositions

Opera

Film

Jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Donald (ed) (1991). Letters From A Life: Selected Letters of Benjamin Britten, Vol. 2 1939–45. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN   0-571-160581. pp. 628, 657
  2. ↑ Mitchell (1991): p. 629
  3. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954. Record Research.
  4. ↑ "Victor matrix PBS-042546. Frenesi / Artie Shaw Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The book of golden discs. Internet Archive. London : Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN   978-0-214-20512-5.
  6. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-048942. I'll never smile again / The Pied Pipers; Frank Sinatra; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Decca matrix DLA 2033. Only forever / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-046786. Tuxedo junction / Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-046739. The woodpecker's song / Glenn Miller Orchestra; Marion Hutton – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-046084. When you wish upon a star / Ray Eberle; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-040983. All the things you are / Jack Leonard; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-042738. Indian summer / Jack Leonard; Tommy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-048489. Fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) / Ray Eberle; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Decca matrix 67863. Maybe / Ink Spots – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-053132. Blueberry Hill / Ray Eberle; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Decca matrix 67584. The breeze and I / Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Decca matrix 67928. We three (My echo, my shadow and me) / Ink Spots – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Decca matrix 67189. With the wind and the rain in your hair / Bob Crosby Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Decca matrix 66989. It's a blue world / Tony Martin – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Victor matrix BS-047095. Say it / Ray Eberle; Glenn Miller Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Song: All This and Heaven Too written by Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie DeLange | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  22. ↑ "Les Illuminations, Benjamin Britten" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  23. ↑ "Violin Concerto, Benjamin Britten" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  24. ↑ "Carpenter: Adventures in a Perambulator / Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2". www.naxos.com.
  25. ↑ Paul Creston: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. February 9, 1994. ISBN   9780313253362 – via Google Books.
  26. ↑ "Malambo, Alberto Evaristo Ginastera" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  27. ↑ "Tres Piezas, Alberto Evaristo Ginastera" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  28. ↑ "Hartmann: Concerto funebre". Hyperion Records.
  29. ↑ "Los Angeles Philharmonic". Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Little Concerto, Ernst Krenek" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  31. ↑ "Symphonisches Stück, Ernst Krenek" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  32. ↑ "Norlands Operan". Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Overture: Aotearoa – SOUNZ". sounz.org.nz. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Chicago Symphony Orchestra" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  35. ↑ "N. Myaskovsky » Works". www.myaskovsky.ru.
  36. ↑ "PISTON, W.: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra (Buswell, Ukraine National Symphony, T. Kuchar)". www.naxos.com.
  37. ↑ Price, Florence (January 1, 2008) [1932]. Brown, Rae Linda; Shirley, Wayne D. (eds.). Symphonies nos. 1 and 3. A-R Editions. pp. xlvi–lii. ISBN   978-0895796387.
  38. ↑ Espinosa, Olivia. "An Evening with Yefim Bronfman – La Jolla Music Society". Archived from the original on July 25, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Joaquín Rodrigo official website" . Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Zweite Kammersymphonie op. 38, Arnold Schoenberg" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  41. ↑ "Concerto pour violon et orchestre op. 36, Arnold Schoenberg" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  42. ↑ "Quintette avec piano, Dimitri Chostakovitch" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  43. ↑ "Quatre romances sur des vers de Pouchkine, Dimitri Chostakovitch" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  44. ↑ Jones, Barrie (June 3, 2014). The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary of Music. Routledge. ISBN   9781135950187 – via Google Books.
  45. ↑ "Chicago Symphony Orchestra" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 12, 2014. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Concerto pour double orchestre à cordes, Sir Michael Tippett" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  47. ↑ "Fünf Lieder, Op. 4, Anton Webern" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  48. ↑ "London performances – White Horse Inn (1st Revival)" (PDF). overthefootlights.co.uk. 1940. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  49. ↑ Várkonyi Vilmos (2013). Jávor Pál: és a magyar film aranykora. Zima Szabolcs. p. 52.
  50. ↑ Medved, Harry (1978). The Fifty Worst Movies of All Time (and how They Got that Way) (First ed.). Angus & Robertson. p. 288. ISBN   9780207958915 . Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  51. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (2015). "A-Night-at-Earl-Carroll-s – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  52. ↑ Martin, Douglas (January 17, 2012). "Jimmy Castor, Musician Who Mastered Many Genres, Dies at 71". The New York Times .
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