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1946 in music

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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}}

{{YYYY music|1946}}

{{Year nav topic5|1946|music|radio|television|film}}

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1946.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

  • January 6 – A somewhat revised and streamlined revival of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat opens on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre, the same theatre at which the original production played in 1927. This production features newly designed sets and costumes, new, more extended choreography, and a new song, Nobody Else But Me, by Kern and Hammerstein.
  • February – Kathleen Ferrier's recording contract with Columbia Records expires, and she transfers to Decca.
  • May 24 – John Serry Sr. collaborates with the vocalist Sidor Belarsky and the Mischa Borr Orchestra in recordings of Ukrainian folk songs.[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]
  • August – American singer Doris Day leaves Les Brown's band and begins her solo career.
  • September 11 – The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra holds its first rehearsal.{{cite book|last=Jenkins|first=Lyndon|year=2005|title=While Spring and Summer Sang: Thomas Beecham and the music of Frederick Delius|location=Aldershot|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=0754607216|pages=99–100}}
  • Formation of Bamberg Symphony; Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra; and RIAS Symphonie-Orchester.
  • Al Jolson rerecords his old hits for the soundtrack of his Columbia biopic The Jolson Story (released October 10 in the United States), and becomes a superstar to the post-war generation too.
  • B. B. King begins working as a professional musician in Memphis, Tennessee.
  • Chet Atkins makes his first appearance at the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Georgia Gibbs signs with the Majestic label.
  • Bill Haley's professional musical career begins as a member of The Down Homers. His earliest known recordings are made during a Down Homers radio performance, but will not be released until 2006.
  • John Serry Sr. appears as the featured accordion soloist on the Gordon MacRae radio hit Skyline Roof.[https://www.esm.rochester.edu/sibley/files/John-J-Serry-Sr-Collection.pdf Eastman School of Music - University of Rochester - Sibley Music Library: John J. Serry Sr. Collection Item 8 audio disc p. 18 in The John J. Serry Sr. Collection archived at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music]

File:Billie Holiday and Mister, New York, N.Y., ca. June 1946 (William P. Gottlieb 04271).jpg backstage in 1946]]

Albums released

Top popular records of 1946

For each Year in Music (beginning 1940) and Year in Country Music (beginning 1939), a comprehensive Year End Top Records section can be found at mid-page (popular), and on the Country page.

The charts are compiled from data published by Billboard magazine, using their formulas, with slight modifications. Most important, there are no songs missing or truncated by Billboard's holiday deadline. Each year, records included enter the charts between the prior November and early December. Each week, fifteen points are awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on. This system rewards songs that reach the highest positions, as well as those that had the longest chart runs. This is our adjustment to Mr. Whitburn's formula, which places no. 1 records on top, then no 2 and so on, ordered by weeks at that position. This allows a record with 4 weeks at no. 1 that only lasted 6 weeks to be rated very high. Here, the total points of a song's complete chart run determines its position. Our chart has more songs, more weeks and may look nothing like Billboard's, but it comes from the exact same surveys.

Before the Hot100 was implemented in 1958, Billboard magazine measured a record's performance with three charts, 'Best-Selling Popular Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' or 'Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys' and 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'. As Billboard did starting in the 1940s, the three totals for each song are combined, with that number determining the final year-end rank. For example, 1944's "A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" by Bing and the Andrews Sisters finished at no. 19, despite six weeks at no. 1 on the 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'(JB) chart. It scored 126 points, to go with its Best-Selling chart (BS) total of 0. Martha Tilton's version of "I'll Walk Alone" peaked at no. 4 on the Juke Box chart, which only totalled 65 points, but her BS total was also 65, for a final total of 130, ranking no. 18. Examples like this can be found in "The Billboard" magazine up to 1958. The 'Records Most-Played On the Air' chart didn't begin until January 1945, which is why we only had two sub-totals.

Our rankings are based on Billboard data, but we also present info on recording and release dates, global sales totals, RIAA and BPI certifications and other awards. Rankings from other genres like 'Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs' or 'Most Played Juke Box Race Records', Country charts including 'Most Played Juke Box Folk (Hillbilly) Records', 'Cashbox magazine', and other sources are presented if they exist. We supplement our info with reliable data from the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 |publisher=Record Research |year=1986}} and other sources as specified.

The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' and 'Most Played Juke Box Records' charts, starting November 1945 and before December 1946.

class="wikitable"

! Rank

! Artist

! Title

! Label

! Recorded

! Released

! Chart positions

1Eddy Howard and His Orchestra"To Each His Own"{{Cite web |title=MAJESTIC 78rpm numerical listing discography |url=https://www.78discography.com/Majestic.htm |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=www.78discography.com}}Majestic 7188{{Start date|1946|4|16}}{{Start date|1946|6}}US Billboard 1946 #1, US #1 for 8 weeks, 24 total weeks, 576 points, CashBox #3, 1,000,000 sales
2The Ink Spots"The Gypsy"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73387. The gypsy / Ink Spots – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301604/73387-The_gypsy |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18817{{Start date|1946|2|19}}{{Start date|1946|3}}US Billboard 1946 #2, US #1 for 13 weeks, 23 total weeks, CashBox #1, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #3, Race Records #1 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 548 points, 1,000,000 sales
3Frankie Carle and his Orchestra (vocal by Marjorie Hughes)"Rumors Are Flying"{{Cite web |title=Columbia 78rpm numerical listing discography: 37000–37500 |url=https://www.78discography.com/COL37000.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.78discography.com}}Columbia 37069{{Start date|1946|6|20}}{{Start date|1946|8|19}}US Billboard 1946 #3, US #1 for 11 weeks, 28 total weeks, 477 points, CashBox #6, 1,000,000 sales
4Frank Sinatra"Five Minutes More"Columbia 37048{{Start date|1946|5|28}}{{Start date|1946|7|8}}US Billboard 1946 #4, US #1 for 7 weeks, 19 total weeks, 453 points
5Swing and Sway With Sammy Kaye"The Old Lamp-Lighter"{{Cite web |title=RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500–20-2000 |url=https://www.78discography.com/RCA201500.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.78discography.com}}RCA Victor 20-1963{{Start date|1946|8|21}}{{Start date|1946|9}}US Billboard 1946 #5, US #1 for 8 weeks (Juke Box), 21 total weeks, 452 points, CashBox #8
6Frankie Carle and his Orchestra (vocal by Marjorie Hughes"Oh! What It Seemed to Be"{{Cite web |title=Columbia 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36500–37000 |url=https://www.78discography.com/COL36500.htm |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.78discography.com}}Columbia 36892{{Start date|1945|10|15}}{{Start date|1945|12|17}}US Billboard 1946 #6, US #1 for 11 weeks (Juke Box), 20 total weeks, 436 points, CashBox #5
7Perry Como"Prisoner of Love"RCA Victor 20-1814{{Start date|1945|12|18}}{{Start date|1946|3}}US Billboard 1946 #7, US #1 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, 429 points, 1,000,000 sales
8Dinah Shore"The Gypsy"Columbia 36964{{Start date|1946|2|12}}{{Start date|1946|3|25}}US Billboard 1946 #8, US #1 for 8 weeks, 17 total weeks, 358 points, CashBox #2, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales
9Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"Victor 20-1759{{Start date|1945|10|31}}{{Start date|1945|11}}US Billboard 1946 #9, US #1 for 6 weeks, 16 total weeks, 349 points
10King Cole Trio"(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"Capitol 304{{Start date|1946|8|22}}{{Start date|1946|9|30}}US Billboard 1946 #10, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, CashBox #1, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #20, Race Records #3 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks, 293 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2018, 1,000,000 sales
11Betty Hutton"Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief"{{Cite web |title=Capitol 100–499, 78rpm numerical listing discography |url=https://www.78discography.com/Capitol100.htm |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=www.78discography.com}}Capitol 220{{Start date|1945|6|29}}{{Start date|1945|11}}US Billboard 1946 #10, US #1 for 1 week, 22 total weeks, 299 points
12Frank Sinatra"Oh! What It Seemed to Be"Columbia 36905{{Start date|1945|11|19}}{{Start date|1946|1|14}}US Billboard 1946 #11, US #1 for 8 weeks, 28 total weeks, 295 points, CashBox #7
13Freddy Martin and His Orchestra"Symphony"Victor 20-1747{{Start date|1945|10|2}}{{Start date|1945|11}}US BB 1945 #12, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks
14Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers"Personality"Capitol 230{{Start date|1945|10|1}}{{Start date|1945|12}}US Billboard 1946 #13, US #1 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 289 points, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998
15Freddy Martin and His Orchestra"To Each His Own"RCA Victor 20-1921{{Start date|1946}}{{Start date|1946|7}}US Billboard 1946 #14, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 255 points, CashBox #4
16Kay Kyser and His Orchestra"Ole Buttermilk Sky"Columbia 37073{{Start date|1946|6|15}}{{Start date|1946|8|26}}US Billboard 1946 #15, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, 253 points
17Perry Como"Surrender"RCA Victor 20-1877{{Start date|1946|4|2}}{{Start date|1946|6}}US Billboard 1946 #16, US #1 for 9 weeks, 17 total weeks, 250 points
18Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters"South America, Take It Away"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix L 4178. South America, take it away / The Andrews Sisters; Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000270601/L_4178-South_America_take_it_away |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 23569{{Start date|1946|5|11}}{{Start date|1946|6}}US Billboard 1946 #18, US #2 for 13 weeks, 17 total weeks, 213 points, 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}}
19Hoagy Carmichael and Orchestra"Ole Buttermilk Sky"{{Cite web |title=ARA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 100 series |url=https://www.78discography.com/ARA100.htm |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=www.78discography.com}}ARA 155{{Start date|1946|4|2}}{{Start date|1946|6}}US Billboard 1946 #19, US #1 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 182 points, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998
20Dinah Shore"Doin' What Comes Natur'lly"Columbia 36976{{Start date|1946|3|16}}{{Start date|1946|4|29}}US Billboard 1946 #20, US #3 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 159 points, CashBox #3
21Dinah Shore"Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)"Columbia 36964{{Start date|1946|2|12}}{{Start date|1946|3|25}}US Billboard 1946 #21, US #3 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 158 points, CashBox #3
22Kay Kyser and His Orchestra"The Old Lamp-Lighter"Columbia 37095{{Start date|1946|7|18}}{{Start date|1946|10|14}}US Billboard 1946 #22, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, 143 points, CashBox #9
23Swing and Sway With Sammy Kaye"I'm A Big Girl Now"RCA Victor 20-1812{{Start date|1945|12|22}}{{Start date|1946|2}}US Billboard 1946 #23, US #1 for 1 week, 18 total weeks, 141 points, CashBox #6, 1,000,000 sales

Top race records

Billboard Most-Played Race Records of 1946 is a year-end list compiled by Billboard magazine, printed in the January 4, 1947, issue. It includes rankings for the calendar year only, handicapping records at the beginning and end of the year such as "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie", which finished second as a result. For all year-end charts on these pages, records that enter the chart in December of the previous year, or remain on the chart after December of the current year, receive points for their full chart runs. Each week, a score of 15 points is assigned for the no. 1 record, 9 points for no. 2, 8 points for no. 3, and so on, and the total of all weeks determined the final rank. Additional information from other sources is reported, but not used for ranking. This includes dates obtained from the Discography of American Historical Recordings website, chart performance from Billboard{{'}}s 'Best Selling Retail Records, Records Most-Played On the Air and Most Played Juke Box Records charts, Most Played Juke Box Folk (Hillbilly) Records, Cashbox, and other sources as noted. Additional information can also be found at List of Most Played Juke Box Race Records number ones of 1946.

class="wikitable"

! Rank

! Artist

! Title

! Label

! Recorded

! Released

! Chart positions

1Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73305. Choo choo ch' boogie / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301522/73305-Choo_choo_ch_boogie |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 23610{{Start date|1946|1|23}}{{Start date|1946|8}}US Billboard 1946 #54, US #7 for 1 weeks, 6 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #1, Race Records #1 for 18 weeks, 26 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales
2Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra"Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix L 4009. Hey-ba-ba-re-bop / Lionel Hampton Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000270432/L_4009-Hey-ba-ba-re-bop |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18754{{Start date|1945|12|1}}{{Start date|1946|1}}US Billboard 1946 #114, US #9 for 1 weeks, 8 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #2, Race Records #1 for 16 weeks, 25 total weeks
3Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Buzz Me"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 72709. Buzz me / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000300926/72709-Buzz_me |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18734{{Start date|1945|1|19}}{{Start date|1945|12}}US BB 1946 #90, US #9 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #3, Race Records #1 for 9 weeks, 13 total weeks
4Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming)"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73073. Stone cold dead in de market / Ella Fitzgerald; Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301290/73073-Stone_cold_dead_in_de_market |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 23546{{Start date|1945|10|8}}{{Start date|1946|1|29}}US Billboard 1946 #76, US #7 for 1 weeks, 6 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #4, Race Records #1 for 5 weeks, 20 total weeks, 95 points
5Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73306. Ain't that just like a woman / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301523/73306-Aint_that_just_like_a_woman |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 23669{{Start date|1946|1|23}}{{Start date|1946|10}}US Billboard 1946 #229, US #17 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #6, Race Records #1 for 2 weeks, 17 total weeks, 74 points
6The Ink Spots"The Gypsy"Decca 18817{{Start date|1946|2|19}}{{Start date|1946|3}}US Billboard 1946 #2, US #1 for 13 weeks, 23 total weeks, 55 points, CashBox #1, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #5, Race Records #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales
7Roy Milton and His Solid Senders"R. M. Blues"{{Cite web |title=Juke Box 78rpm numerical listing discography |url=https://www.78discography.com/JukeBox.htm |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=www.78discography.com}}Juke Box 504{{Start date|1946|7}}{{Start date|1946|3}}US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #7, Race Records #2 for 2 weeks, 25 total weeks, 54 points
8Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (vocal Charles Brown)"Driftin' Blues"{{Cite web |last=neonadmin |title=Drifting Blues – Johnny Moore's Three Blazers (Charles Brown, vocal) (Philo, 1945) |url=https://blues.org/blues_hof_inductee/drifting-blues-johnny-moores-three-blazers-charles-brown-vocal-philo-1945/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=Blues Foundation |language=en-US}}Philo 112{{Start date|1945|9|14}}{{Start date|1945|12}}US Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Race Records 1946 #8, US #2 for 1 week, 23 total weeks, 48 points
9Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Salt Pork, West Virginia"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 72979. Salt Pork, West Virginia / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301196/72979-Salt_Pork_West_Virginia |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18762{{Start date|1945|7|16}}{{Start date|1946|2}}US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #9, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 6 weeks, 15 total weeks, 44 points
10Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 72982. Don't worry 'bout that mule / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301199/72982-Dont_worry_bout_that_mule |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18734{{Start date|1946|1|10}}{{Start date|1946|3}}US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #10, Race Records #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 43 points
11Andy Kirk and His Orchestra and The Jubalaires"I Know"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73162. I know / The Jubalaires; Andy Kirk – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301379/73162-I_know |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 18782{{Start date|1945|11|27}}{{Start date|1946|4}}US Billboard 1946 #277, US #21 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #11, Race Records #2 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 34 points
12King Cole Trio"(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66"Capitol 256{{Start date|1946|3|15}}{{Start date|1946|4|22}}US Billboard 1946 #137, US #11 for 1 weeks, 2 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #12, Race Records #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 30 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2018, 1,000,000 sales
13Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"That Chick's Too Young To Fry"{{Cite web |title=Decca matrix 73307. That chick's too young to fry / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000301524/73307-That_chicks_too_young_to_fry |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=adp.library.ucsb.edu}}Decca 23610{{Start date|1946|1|23}}{{Start date|1946|8}}US Most-Played Race Records 1946 #13, Race Records #3 for 8 weeks, 11 total weeks, 30 points
20King Cole Trio"(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons"Capitol 304{{Start date|1946|8|22}}{{Start date|1946|9|30}}US Billboard 1946 #10, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, CashBox #1, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #20, Race Records #3 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks, 17 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2018, 1,000,000 sales

Published popular music

Classical music

=Premieres=

class="wikitable sortable"
ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Barber, SamuelCello Concerto1946-04-05BostonGarbousova / Boston Symphony – Koussevitzky{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BvKChvs3_7gC&q=barber+cello+concerto+garbousova+koussevitzky+1946&pg=PA61|title=Samuel Barber: A Research and Information Guide|first=Wayne|last=Wentzel|date=December 6, 2012|publisher=Routledge|via=Google Books|isbn=9781135271824}}
Bartók, BélaPiano Concerto No. 31946-02-08PhiladelphiaSándor / Philadelphia Orchestra – Ormandy{{cite web|url=https://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Bartok_Piano_Concerto3.pdf|title=Chicago Symphony Orchestra|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-date=November 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106074659/http://cso.org/uploadedFiles/1_Tickets_and_Events/Program_Notes/ProgramNotes_Bartok_Piano_Concerto3.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Bernstein, LeonardThree Dance Episodes from "On the Town"1946-02-03San FranciscoSan Francisco Symphony – Bernstein{{IRCAM work|id=35871|title=Three Dance Episodes from 'On the Town{{'}}, Leonard Bernstein}}
Bernstein, LeonardThree Dance Variations from Fancy Free1946-01-21New York CityNew York City Symphony – Bernstein{{IRCAM work|id=35870|title=Three Dance Variations from Fancy Free, Leonard Bernstein}}[https://books.google.com/books?id=chANBAAAQBAJ&dq=three+dance+variations+from+fancy+free+1946+new+york&pg=PT438 Bernstein Meets Broadway: Collaborative Art in a Time of War]
Boulez, PierreDouze notations for piano1946-02-12ParisGrimaud{{IRCAM work|id=6967|title=Douze notations, Pierre Boulez}}
Britten, BenjaminOccasional Overture1946-09-29LondonBBC Symphony – Boult{{IRCAM work|id=22923|title=Occasional Overture in C, Benjamin Britten}}
Britten, BenjaminThe Holy Sonnets of John Donne1946-11-22LondonPears, Britten{{IRCAM work|id=22751|title=The Holy Sonnets of John Donne, Benjamin Britten}}
Britten, BenjaminThe Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra1946-10-15LiverpoolRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic – Sargent{{IRCAM work|id=22768|title=The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Benjamin Britten}}
Cage, JohnThree Dances for Two Prepared Pianos1946-12-11New York CityAjemian, Masselos{{IRCAM work|id=7143|title=Three Dances, John Cage}}
Carter, ElliottElegy for String Quartet1946-08-21Eliot, MaineLanier Quartet{{IRCAM work|id=13059|title=Elegy, Elliott Carter}}
Carter, ElliottMusicians Wrestle Everywhere1946-02-12New York CityRandolph Singers – Randolph{{IRCAM work|id=7205|title=Musicians Wrestle Everywhere, Elliott Carter}}
Carter, ElliottVoyage for voice and piano1946-03-16New York CityBoatwright, Baerwald{{IRCAM work|id=21157|title=Voyage, Elliott Carter}}
Carter, ElliottWarble for Lilac Time1946-09-14Saratoga Springs, New York (Spa Festival)Boatwright / Yaddo Orchestra – Fennell{{IRCAM work|id=21156|title=Warble for Lilac Time, Elliott Carter}}
Copland, AaronDanzón cubano1946-02-17BaltimoreBaltimore Symphony – Stewart{{IRCAM work|id=33948|title=Danzón cubano, Aaron Copland}}
Copland, AaronSymphony No. 31946-10-18BostonBoston Symphony – Koussevitzky{{cite web|url=http://www.cantonsymphony.org/670|title=Canton Symphony Orchestra|access-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707073915/http://www.cantonsymphony.org/670|archive-date=July 7, 2015|url-status=dead}}
Dallapiccola, LuigiCiaccona, Intermezzo e Adagio for cello1946-02-26MilanCassadó{{IRCAM work|id=24973|title=Ciaccona, Intermezzo e Adagio, Luigi Dallapiccola}}
Dallapiccola, LuigiLiriche Greche II – Due liriche di Anacreonte1946-06-24BrusselsMartin-Metten / Brussels Philharmonic – Souris{{IRCAM work|id=7576|title=Due liriche di Anacreonte – Liriche Greche II, Luigi Dallapiccola}}
Dallapiccola, LuigiRencesvals1946-12-19BrusselsBernac, Poulenc{{IRCAM work|id=24949|title=Rencesvals, Luigi Dallapiccola}}
Dallapiccola, LuigiSonatina canonica su Capricci di Paganini1946-03-03Perugia, ItalyScarpini{{IRCAM work|id=24952|title=Sonatina canonica, Luigi Dallapiccola}}
Ginastera, AlbertoSinfonía elegíaca (Symphony No. 2)1946-05-31Buenos Aires[unknown orchestra] – Castro{{IRCAM work|id=31602|title=Symphonie No. 2 'Elégiaque', Alberto Evaristo Ginastera}}
Guridi, JesúsSinfonía Pirenaica1946-06-08BilbaoBilbao Municipal Orchestra – Arámbarri{{cite web|url=http://www.euskonews.com/0580zbk/gaia58001es.html|title=Euskonews}}
Henze, Hans WernerChamber Concerto for piano, flute and strings1946-09-27Darmstädter Ferienkurse, GermanyRedel, Seemann / Darmstadt Landestheater Orchestra – Straub{{IRCAM work|id=24198|title=Kammerkonzert, Hans Werner Henze}}
Ives, CharlesCentral Park in the Dark (1906)1946-05-11New York CityStudents of the Juilliard School – Bloomfield{{IRCAM work|id=32384|title=Central Park in the Dark, Charles Ives}}
Ives, CharlesIn Summer Fields (1898)1946-11-12Los AngelesDice, Wenger{{IRCAM work|id=32578|title=Feldeinsamkeit / In Summer Fields, Charles Ives}}
Ives, CharlesString Quartet No. 2 (1913)1946-05-11New York CityStudents of the Juilliard School{{IRCAM work|id=9428|title=String Quartet No. 2, Charles Ives}}
Ives, CharlesThe Camp Meeting (Symphony No. 3) (1904)1946-04-05New York CityNew York Little Symphony – Harrison{{IRCAM work|id=32256|title=Symphony No. 3: The Camp Meeting, Charles Ives}}
Ives, CharlesThe Unanswered Question (1906)1946-05-11New York CityStudents of the Juilliard School – Bloomfield{{IRCAM work|id=9439|title=The Unanswered Question, Charles Ives}}
Jolivet, AndréDivertissement à la roumaine1946-12-19Paris[unknown performers]{{IRCAM work|id=34893|title=Divertissement à la roumaine, André Jolivet}}
Jongen, JosephMass, Op. 1301946-06-23Liège Cathedral, BelgiumJongen
Korngold, Erich WolfgangCello Concerto1946-12-29Los AngelesAller / Los Angeles Philharmonic – Svedrofsky[http://www.schott-music.com/shop/Sheet_Music/show,34218.html Schott Music]
Krenek, ErnstSymphony No. 31946-11-22MinneapolisMinneapolis Symphony – Mitropoulos{{IRCAM work|id=33714|title=Concerto pour piano et orchestre No. 3, Ernst Krenek}}
Krenek, ErnstSymphonic Elegy in memoriam Anton Webern1946-09-03Saratoga Springs, New York (Spa Festival)New York Philharmonic – Adler{{IRCAM work|id=33742|title=Élégie symphonique, Ernst Krenek}}
Krenek, ErnstTricks and Trifles1946-03-22MinneapolisMinneapolis Symphony – Mitropoulos{{IRCAM work|id=33741|title=Tricks and Trifles, Ernst Krenek}}
Martin, FrankPetite symphonie concertante1946-05-17ZürichCollegium Musicum Zurich – Sacher{{cite web|url=http://www.universaledition.com/Frank-Martin/composers-and-works/composer/456/work/4134|title=Martin – Petite symphonie concertante for harp, harpsichord, piano and 2 string orchestras – Universal Edition|website=Universal Edition}}
Martinů, BohuslavEtudes and Polkas for Piano1946-01-18Cambridge, MassachusettsFirkusny{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-beuAwAAQBAJ&q=martinu+symphony+5+czech+philharmonic+kubelik&pg=PT41|title=Bohuslav Martinů: A Research and Information Guide|first=Robert|last=Simon|date=May 30, 2014|publisher=Routledge|via=Google Books|isbn=9781317806097}}
Messiaen, OlivierHarawi, chant d'amour et de mort1946-06-27BrusselsBunlet, Messiaen{{IRCAM work|id=10592|title=Harawi, Olivier Messiaen}}
Milhaud, DariusSymphony No. 21946-12-20BostonBoston Symphony – Piston{{cite web|url=http://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/historyarchives/archival-collection/world-premieres-at-the-bso/world-premieres-the-1900s.aspx|title=World Premieres: The 1900s|publisher=Boston Symphony Orchestra|website=www.bso.org|access-date=July 10, 2015|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118212645/http://www.bso.org/brands/bso/about-us/historyarchives/archival-collection/world-premieres-at-the-bso/world-premieres-the-1900s.aspx|url-status=dead}}
Prokofiev, SergeiViolin Sonata No. 11946-10-23MoscowOistrakh, Oborin{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v0l9zLpsOmoC&q=prokofiev+violin+sonata+1+oborin+oistrakh+1946+moscow&pg=PA277|title=The People's Artist: Prokofiev's Soviet Years|first=Simon|last=Morrison|date=November 25, 2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|via=Google Books|isbn=9780199720514}}
Schoenberg, ArnoldTheme and Variations for Band1946-06-27BostonBoston Symphony – Koussevitzky{{IRCAM work|id=23788|title=Thème et variations pour orchestre d'harmonie op. 43a, Arnold Schoenberg}}
Shostakovich, DmitriString Quartet No. 31946-12-16MoscowBeethoven Quartet{{IRCAM work|id=7372|title=Quatuor à cordes No. 3, Dimitri Chostakovitch}}
Shostakovich, DmitriVictorious Spring1946-05-08MoscowNKVD Choreographic and Vocal Ensemble – Silantsev{{IRCAM work|id=7320|title=La Victoire du printemps, Dimitri Chostakovitch}}
Strauss, RichardMetamorphosen, study for 23 strings1946-01-25ZürichCollegium Musicum Zürich – Sacher{{cite journal|url=https://academic.oup.com/ml/article/87/3/462/2848188|title=Eine 3000 Jährige Kulturentwicklung abgeschlossen: Biographie und Geschichte in den Metamorphosen von Richard Strauss|first=Kenneth|last=Birkin|date=August 1, 2006|journal=Music and Letters|volume=87|issue=3|pages=462–463|via=ml.oxfordjournals.org|doi=10.1093/ml/gci218|s2cid=191486240}}
Strauss, RichardOboe Concerto1946-02-26ZürichTonhalle Orchestra – Andreae{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Richard-Strauss-Oboe-Concerto/993|title=Richard Strauss – Oboe Concerto|website=www.boosey.com}}
Stravinsky, IgorEbony Concerto for clarinet and jazz band1946-03-25New York CityHerman / Herman's Band – Hendel{{IRCAM work|id=12202|title=Ebony Concerto, Igor Stravinsky}}
Stravinsky, IgorScherzo à la russe1946-03-22San FranciscoSan Francisco Symphony – Stravinsky{{IRCAM work|id=24780|title=Scherzo à la russe, Igor Stravinsky}}
Stravinsky, IgorSymphony in Three Movements1946-01-24New York CityNew York Philharmonic – Stravinsky{{IRCAM work|id=24779|title=Symphonie en trois mouvements, Igor Stravinsky}}
Tippett, MichaelLittle Music for Strings1946-11-09LondonJacques String Orchestra – Jacques{{IRCAM work|id=12403|title=Little Music, Sir Michael Tippett}}
Tippett, MichaelString Quartet No. 31946-10-19LondonZorian Quartet{{IRCAM work|id=12427|title=Quatuor à cordes No. 3, Sir Michael Tippett}}
Villa-Lobos, HeitorPiano Concerto No. 11946-10-11Theatro Municipal (Rio de Janeiro)Ballon / Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro Municipal – Villa-Lobos[http://museuvillalobos.org.br/ingles/bancodad/VLSO_1.0.pdf Villa-Lobos, sua obra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016170347/http://museuvillalobos.org.br/ingles/bancodad/VLSO_1.0.pdf |date=October 16, 2016 }}, Version 1.0. (MinC / IBRAM, and the Museu Villa-Lobos, 2009, based on the third edition, 1989): 56.
Webern, AntonCantata No. 11946-07-12LondonHooke / BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus – Rankl{{IRCAM work|id=12617/|title=I. Kantate, Op. 29, Anton Webern}}
Zimmermann, Bernd AloisCapriccio for Piano, improvisations on folk themes1946-07-12Horrem, GermanuWirtz{{IRCAM work|id=12954|title=Capriccio, Bernd Alois Zimmermann}}
Zimmermann, Bernd AloisDrei Geistliche Lieder, improvisations on folk themes1946-06-18CologneKlaembt, Hecker{{IRCAM work|id=12968|title=Drei geistliche Lieder, Bernd Alois Zimmermann}}
Zimmermann, Bernd AloisExtemporale, five pieces for piano1946-04-12CologneWirtz{{IRCAM work|id=12961|title=Extemporale: Fünf Stücke, für Klavier, Bernd Alois Zimmermann}}
Zimmermann, Bernd AloisScherzo sinfonico1946-05-06CologneGürzenich Orchestra – Wand{{IRCAM work|id=23250|title=Sinfonia prosodica, Bernd Alois Zimmermann}}

=Compositions=

Opera

Film

[[Jazz]]

{{Main|1946 in jazz}}

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

=Date unknown=

References

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{{Commons category}}

Category:20th century in music

Category:Music by year