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1937 in music

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{{YYYY music|1937}}

{{Year nav topic5|1937|music|radio|television|film}}

File:Il Trovatore.jpg production of Il trovatore]]

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1937.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

  • January 24 – Ernest John Moeran completes the revised version of his Symphony in G minor, dedicated to conductor Hamilton Harty.[http://frombeyondthestave.blogspot.com/2009/07/most-glorious-of-english-symphonies.html From Beyond the Stave: The most glorious of English symphonies] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029075136/http://frombeyondthestave.blogspot.com/2009/07/most-glorious-of-english-symphonies.html |date=October 29, 2015 }}
  • March 6 – Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears first meet, in London.[https://books.google.com/books?id=apK4QsYIE58C&dq=Britten+pears+first+meeting+1936&pg=RA1-PT334 Letters from a Life Vol 1: 1923–39: Selected Letters and Diaries of Benjamin Britten] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403021320/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=apK4QsYIE58C&pg=RA1-PT334&lpg=RA1-PT334&dq=Britten%20pears%20first%20meeting%201936&source=bl&ots=p96LDyOlve&sig=u7-xfJXE4MDODe-YviI9WtOqL-A&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m66OVPffJtfkarPsgIgK&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBw |date=April 3, 2016 }}
  • May 12 – At the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in Westminster Abbey, William Walton's ceremonial march, "Crown Imperial", originally written for his predecessor, King Edward VIII, is performed for the first time.{{cite book|author=Neil Tierney|title=William Walton: His Life and Music|publisher=R. Hale|year=1984|page=273}}
  • June 2 – The incomplete version of Alban Berg's opera Lulu is premièred in Zürich (it is later completed in a version premiered in 1979)
  • June 8 –
  • After a New York recital with pianist José Iturbi, violinist Manuel Quiroga is hit by a truck while crossing Times Square, leaving him with a paralysed arm.{{Cite web |title= Manuel Quiroga |website= www.spainisculture.com

|url= http://www.spainisculture.com/en/artistas_creadores/manuel_quiroga.html

|access-date= 2021-09-10}}

  • Première of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in Frankfurt, Germany.
  • November 30 – Ruth Etting divorces Martin Snyder.{{cite book | last = Houseman | first = Victoria | title = Made in heaven : the marriages and children of Hollywood stars | publisher = Bonus Books | location = Chicago, Illinois| year = 1991 | isbn = 9780929387246 | page=98}}
  • December 9 - At the age of 22, the accordionist John Serry Sr. makes the first of several recordings with the Shep Fields Jazz Orchestra.[https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/mastertalent/detail/343174/Serry_John?Matrix_page=100000 "Discography of American Historical Recordings" - John Serry on adp.library.ucsb.edu]
  • December 25 – At the age of 70, Italian-born conductor Arturo Toscanini conducts the NBC Symphony Orchestra on U.S. radio for the first time, beginning his 17-year tenure with the orchestra. This first concert consists of music by Vivaldi (at a time when he is seldom played), Mozart, and Brahms. Millions tune in to listen, including U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
  • Perry Como begins singing with the Ted Weems orchestra. Frankie Laine fills Como's vacated position with the Freddie Carlone band.{{cite book | last = Larkin | first = Colin | title = The Guinness who's who of fifties music | publisher = Guinness Publishing | location = Enfield | year = 1993 | isbn = 9780851127323 | page=195}}
  • Renato Carosone obtains his pianoforte diploma.

Top popular recordings

The twenty popular records in the United States listed below were extracted from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954,{{Cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn|title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 |publisher=Record Research |year=1986}} 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.

class="wikitable"

! Rank

! Artist

! Title

! Label

! Recorded

! Released

! Chart positions

1Bing Crosby"Sweet Leilani"Decca{{Start date|1937|2|22}}{{Start date|1937|3}}US BB 1937 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks, 25 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales{{Cite journal |date=August 28, 1954 |title=Decca Records 20th Anniversary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=liEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=decca+vocalion+brunswick+1941&pg=PA14 |journal=The Billboard |pages=46}}
2Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra"Once In A While"Victor{{Start date|1937|7|21}}{{Start date|1937|10|13}}US BB 1937 #2, US #1 for 7 weeks, 14 total weeks, Jazz Standards 1937
3Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra"The Dipsy Doodle"Victor{{Start date|1937|10|14}}{{Start date|1937|11|1}}US BB 1937 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks, 15 total weeks
4Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane"Victor{{Start date|1937|4|21}}{{Start date|1937|5|5}}US BB 1937 #4, US #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks
5Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Boo Hoo"Victor{{Start date|1937|2|17}}{{Start date|1937|3}}US BB 1937 #5, US #1 for 5 weeks, 12 total weeks
6Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"September in the Rain"Victor{{Start date|1937|2|2}}{{Start date|1937|3}}US BB 1937 #6, US #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks
7Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra"That Old Feeling"Bluebird{{Start date|1937|7|2}}{{Start date|1937|7|21}}US BB 1937 #7, US #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks
8Bob Crosby and His Orchestra"Whispers in the Dark"Decca{{Start date|1937|7|7}}{{Start date|1937|8}}US BB 1937 #8, US #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks
9Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Ella Fitzgerald)Goodnight, My LoveVictor{{Start date|1936|11|5}}{{Start date|1936|11|18}}US BB 1936 #9, US #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks
10Bing Crosby"The Moon Got in My Eyes"Decca{{Start date|1937|7|12}}{{Start date|1937|8}}US BB 1937 #10, US #1 for 4 weeks, 11 total weeks
11Hal Kemp and His Orchestra"This Year's Kisses"{{Cite web |title=Brunswick 78rpm numerical listing discography: 7500–8000 |url=https://www.78discography.com/BRN7500.htm |access-date=2022-06-18 |website=www.78discography.com}}Brunswick{{Start date|1937|1|4}}{{Start date|1937|2}}US BB 1936 #11, US #1 for 4 weeks, 8 total weeks
12Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"A Sailboat in the Moonlight"Victor{{Start date|1937|5|28}}{{Start date|1937|6}}US BB 1937 #12, US #1 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks
13Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra (vocal Billie Holiday)"Carelessly"Brunswick{{Start date|1937|3|31}}{{Start date|1937|4}}US BB 1937 #13, US #1 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks
14Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra"Satan Takes a Holiday"Victor{{Start date|1937|4|15}}{{Start date|1937|7}}US BB 1937 #14, US #1 for 3 weeks, 11 total weeks
15Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Margaret McCrae)"This Year's Kisses"Victor{{Start date|1936|12|30}}{{Start date|1937|1|20}}US BB 1937 #15, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks
16Bing CrosbyRemember Me?Decca{{Start date|1937|9|20}}{{Start date|1937|10}}US BB 1937 #16, US #1 for 3 weeks, 6 total weeks
17Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra"It's De-Lovely"Victor{{Start date|1937|10|2}}{{Start date|1937|10|21}}US BB 1936 #17, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
18Russ Morgan and His Orchestra"The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"Brunswick{{Start date|1937|4|29}}{{Start date|1937|5}}US BB 1937 #18, US #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks
19Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra"Marie"Victor{{Start date|1937|1|29}}{{Start date|1937|2|17}}US BB 1937 #19, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, 150,000 sales{{Cite news |date=February 1939 |title=Some New Highs |pages=39 |work=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety133-1939-02/page/n149/mode/2up?q=highs |access-date=June 18, 2022}}
20Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra"The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down"Bluebird{{Start date|1937|6|3}}{{Start date|1937|6|16}}US BB 1937 #20, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
21Fats Waller and his Rhythm"(You Know it All) Smarty"Victor{{Start date|1937|6|11}}{{Start date|1937|6|30}}US BB 1937 #21, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
22Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra"The Big Apple"Victor{{Start date|1937|8|13}}{{Start date|1937|8|25}}US BB 1937 #22, US #1 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks
23Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra (vocal Billie Holiday)"You Can't Stop Me from Dreaming"Brunswick{{Start date|1937|8|29}}{{Start date|1937|9}}US BB 1937 #23, US #1 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks
24Hal Kemp and His Orchestra"Where or When"Brunswick{{Start date|1937|3|24}}{{Start date|1937|4}}US BB 1936 #24, US #1 for 1 weeks, 16 total weeks
27Fred Astaire"They Can't Take That Away From Me"Brunswick{{Start date|1937|3|14}}{{Start date|1937|4}}US BB 1937 #27, US #1 for 1 weeks, 11 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2005, Jazz Standards 1937
28Bing CrosbyToo Marvelous for WordsDecca{{Start date|1937|3|3}}{{Start date|1937|4}}US BB 1937 #28, US #1 for 1 weeks, 10 total weeks
29Duke Ellington and His Famous OrchestraCaravanMaster{{Start date|1937|5|14}}{{Start date|1937|6}}US BB 1937 #60, US #4 for 1 weeks, 18 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2009, Jazz Standards 1936

Number one hit songs (in order)

Published popular music

Top blues records

Classical music

=Premieres=

class="wikitable sortable"
ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Bartók, BélaMusic for Strings, Percussion and Celesta1937-01-21Basel, SwitzerlandBasel Chamber Orchestra – Sacher[http://cso.org/uploadedfiles/1_tickets_and_events/program_notes/programnotes_bartok_stringsperccelesta.pdf Chicago Symphony Orchestra]
Benjamin, ArthurOverture to an Italian Comedy1937-03-02London[unknown ensemble] – Jacob[http://www.contraclassics.com/browser/composition:536 Contraclassics]
Bloch, ErnestVoice in the Wilderness1937-01-21Los AngelesBorisoff / Los Angeles Philharmonic – Klemperer[http://www.ernestbloch.org/home.cfm?dir_cat=79296 Ernest Bloch Legacy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519214403/http://www.ernestbloch.org/home.cfm?dir_cat=79296 |date=2014-05-19 }}
Britten, BenjaminOn this Island1937-11-19LondonWyss, Britten {{IRCAM work|22687|[Benjamin Britten: On this Island}}
Britten, BenjaminReveille1937-04-12LondonBrosa, Reizenstein{{IRCAM work|22994|Benjamin Britten: Reveille}}
Britten, BenjaminVariations on a Theme by Frank Bridge1937-08-27Salzburg, Austria (Festival)Boyd Neel Orchestra – Neel{{IRCAM work|22686|Reveille: Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge}}
Copland, AaronEl Salón México1937-08-27Mexico CityMexico Symphony – Chávez[http://nyphil.org/~/media/pdfs/program-notes/1415/Copland-El%20Salon%20Mexico.pdf New York Philharmonic]
Copland, AaronPrairie Journal1937-07-25New York CityColumbia Symphony – Barlow{{IRCAM work|33940|Aaron Copland: Prairie Journal}}
Dallapiccola, LuigiTre laudi1937-09-08Venice (Festival)Vivante / Grupo Strumentale Italiano – Sanzogno{{Cite web |url=http://web.labiennale.org/doc_files/1930-1972ok.pdf |title=Venice Biennale archive |access-date=2016-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002085018/http://web.labiennale.org/doc_files/1930-1972ok.pdf |archive-date=2015-10-02 |url-status=dead }}
Farkas, FerencHarp Concertino1937-03-11BudapestMolnár / [unknown ensemble] – Kenessey[http://www.ferencfarkas.org/concertino-for-harp-and-string-orchestra-or-string-quartet.phtml Ferenc Farkas officialk website]
Ginastera, AlbertoDanzas Argentinas1937-10-27Buenos AiresDe Raco{{IRCAM work|31586|Alberto Ginastera: Danzas Argentinas}}
Ginastera, AlbertoSuite from Panambí1937-11-27Buenos Aires[unknown ensemble] – Castro[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.570999&catNum=570999&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English Naxos Records]
Ives, CharlesPsalm 67 (1899)1937-05-06New York CityThe Madrigal Singers – Engel{{IRCAM work|32479|Charles Ives: Psalm 67}}
Jolivet, AndréRomantiques1937-03-20ParisGérar, D'Aleman{{IRCAM work|35073|André Jolivet: Romantiques}}
Jolivet, AndréTrois Chants des Hommes1937-06-04ParisBastard / Paris Conservatory Concerts Society Orchestra – Modesti
Khachaturian, AramPiano Concerto1937-07-12MoscowOborin / Moscow Philharmonic – Steinberg[http://www.eclassical.com/shop/17115/art34/4911134-0dc749-827949051067.pdf Eclassical]
Messiaen, OlivierFêtes des belles eaux1937-07-25Paris (Expo 37)[unknown ensemble] {{IRCAM work|19465|Olivier Messiaen: Fêtes des belles eaux}}
Messiaen, OlivierPoèmes pour Mi1937-06-04ParisBunlet / Paris Conservatory Concerts Society Orchestra – Désormière{{IRCAM work|10608|Olivier Messiaen: Poèmes pour Mi}}
Milhaud, DariusSuite provençale1937-09-12Venice (Festival)[unknown ensemble] – Milhaud [http://www.yourclassical.org/programs/composers-datebook/episodes/2008/09/12 Your Classical]
Myaskovsky, NikolaySymphony No. 171937-12-17MoscowUSSR State Symphony – Gauk[https://books.google.com/books?id=mQmLAwAAQBAJ&dq=miaskovsky+symphony+17+premiere&pg=PA367 Nikolay Myaskovsky: The Conscience of Russian Music]
Myaskovsky, NikolaySymphony No. 181937-10-01MoscowUSSR State Symphony – Gauk
Prokofiev, SergeiSuite No. 2 from Romeo and Juliet1937-04-15LeningradLeningrad Philharmonic – Mravinsky[http://www.sikorski.de/media/files/1/2/1381/7212/7394/7239/7240/prokofjew_werkverzeichnis.pdf Sikorski]
Roussel, AlbertCello Concertino1937-02-06ParisFournier / Concerts Poulet Orchestra – Siohan[https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123532/https://www.allmusic.com/composition/concertino-for-cello-orchestra-op-57-mc0002378290 Allmusic]
Rubbra, EdmundSymphony No. 11937-04-30LondonBBC Symphony – Boult[https://books.google.com/books?id=3KroCQAAQBAJ&dq=rubbra+symphony+1+30+april+1937&pg=PA986 Two Centuries of British Symphonies: From the Beginnings to 1945]
Schoenberg, ArnoldString Quartet No. 41937-01-08Los AngelesKolisch Quartet{{IRCAM work|11872|Arnold Schoenberg: String Quartet No. 4}}
Sessions, RogerString Quartet No. 11937-04-10Washington D.C.Coolidge Quartet[http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.559261&catNum=559261&filetype=About+this+Recording&language=English Naxos Records]
Shostakovich, DmitriSymphony No. 51937-11-21LeningradLeningrad Philharmonic – Mravinsky[https://books.google.com/books?id=lozBiI1ehiIC&dq=shostakovich+symphony+5+1937+leningrad+mravinsky&pg=PA546 The Symphony: A Listener's Guide]
Webern, AntonVariations for Piano1937-10-26ViennaStadlen{{IRCAM work|12657|Anton Webern: Variations for piano}}

=Compositions=

Opera

Film

Jazz

{{Main|1937 in jazz}}

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

File:George Gershwin 1937.jpg in 1937, the year of his death.]]

References

{{reflist}}

Category:20th century in music

Category:Music by year