1955 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1955.

1955 in music
By location
By genre
By topic
List of years in music (table)
Pete Seeger in 1955

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

In 1955, 1,615 albums and 4,542 pop singles were released in the US.[4]

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1955.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1Bill Haley & His CometsRock Around the Clock1955UK 1 – Jan 1955 (36 weeks), US Billboard 1 – May 1955 (24 weeks), US BB 1 of 1955, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954 (31 weeks), Your Hit Parade 1 of 1955, Record Mirror 1 for 8 weeks – Nov 1955, Australia 1 for 6 weeks – Aug 1955, Germany 1 for 4 weeks – Jun 1956, UK sales 1 of the 1950s (1,390 k in 1955), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982 (1954), DDD 1 of 1954, POP 1 of 1955, DZE 1 of 1955, Flanders 2 – Nov 1955 (14 months), RYM 2 of 1954, DMDB 2 (1954), Italy 3 of 1957, UKMIX 3, nuTsie 3 of 1950s, Brazil 4 of 1956, Europe 5 of the 1950s (1955), D.Marsh 7 of 1955, Scrobulate 8 of rock & roll, RIAA 12, Germany 17 – Jun 1968 (2 months), Holland 27 – Jun 1968 (5 weeks), Belgium 30 – Jun 1974 (1 week), 41 in 2FM list, Acclaimed 49 (1954), AFI 50, Rolling Stone 158, Global 4 (20 M sold) – 1954, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500, Party 180 of 1999
2Tennessee Ernie FordSixteen Tons1955UK 1 – Jan 1956 (11 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Nov 1955 (22 weeks), US CashBox 1 – Nov 1955 (21 weeks), Record Mirror 1 for 5 weeks – Jan 1956, Australia 1 for 6 weeks – Feb 1956, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1955), DZE 2 of 1955, Flanders 3 – Jan 1956 (7 months), Brazil 7 of 1956, D.Marsh 12 of 1955, RYM 13 of 1955, US BB 20 of 1955, POP 20 of 1955, DDD 49 of 1955, RIAA 83, DMDB 88 (1955), Acclaimed 276 (1955), UKMIX 933
3The PlattersOnly You (And You Alone)1955Italy 1 of 1957, France 1 for 13 weeks – Nov 1957, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1955), US CashBox 3 – Aug 1955 (26 weeks), US BB 4 of 1955, Brazil 4 of 1957, POP 4 of 1955, UK 5 – Sep 1956 (16 weeks), US Billboard 5 – Sep 1955 (22 weeks), D.Marsh 10 of 1955, DDD 12 of 1955, RYM 15 of 1955, Europe 22 of the 1950s (1955), nuTsie 88 of 1950s, Acclaimed 643 (1955), Party 271 of 1999
4Perez PradoCherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)1955UK 1 – Mar 1955 (17 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Mar 1955 (26 weeks), Australia 1 for 3 weeks – Jul 1955, Germany 1 for 7 weeks – Oct 1955, US CashBox 2 – Mar 1955 (29 weeks), Flanders 2 – Apr 1955 (5 months), Your Hit Parade 3 of 1955, Brazil 4 of 1955, US BB 7 of 1955, POP 7 of 1955, RYM 27 of 1955, DDD 68 of 1955, UKMIX 188
5Four AcesLove is a Many Splendoured Thing1955US Billboard 1 – Aug 1955 (21 weeks), US CashBox 1 – Aug 1955 (29 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 1 week – Jan 1956, Oscar in 1955 (film 'Love is a Many Splendored Thing'), UK 2 – Nov 1955 (13 weeks), Peel list 2 of 1955, Italy 3 of 1956, DZE 3 of 1955, US BB 9 of 1955, POP 9 of 1955, Flanders 13 – Dec 1955 (3 months), RYM 29 of 1955, UKMIX 550

US No. 1 hit singles

These singles reached the top of US Billboard magazine's charts in 1955.

First weekNumber of weeksTitleArtist
January 22, 19552"Let Me Go, Lover"Joan Weber
February 5, 19551"Hearts of Stone"Fontane Sisters
February 12, 19556"Sincerely"McGuire Sisters
March 26, 19555"The Ballad of Davy Crockett"Bill Hayes
April 30, 195510"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White"Perez Prado
July 9, 19558"Rock Around the Clock"Bill Haley & His Comets
September 3, 19555"The Yellow Rose of Texas"Mitch Miller
October 8, 19551"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing"The Four Aces
October 15, 19551"The Yellow Rose of Texas"Mitch Miller
October 22, 19551"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing"The Four Aces
October 29, 19554"Autumn Leaves"Roger Williams
November 26, 19557"Sixteen Tons"Tennessee Ernie Ford

Top hits on record

Top R&B and country hits on record

Other notable songs

Classical music

Premieres
Sortable table
ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Berio, LucianoMimusique No. 21955-10-25 BergamoAlbertini, Cacciari, Carpi, Chazalettes, Consonni, Nogara, Pistone, Ridoni, Tortorella, Zovianoff — Maderna[5]
Blacher, BorisViola Concerto1955-03-14 CologneWolf / ? – Sawallisch[6]
Bliss, Sir ArthurMeditation on a Theme by John Blow (orchestral)1955-12-13 Birmingham (Town Hall)City of Birmingham Symphony – Schwarz[7][8]
Bliss, Sir ArthurViolin Concerto1955-05-11 LondonLondon Symphony – Sargent[9][10][11]
Boulez, PierreLe Marteau sans maître1955-08-16 Baden-BadenPlate / members of SWF Symphony – Rosbaud[12]
Boulez, PierreSonatine for flute and piano1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Redel, Loriod[13]
Enescu, GeorgeChamber Symphony, Op. 331955-01-23 ParisAssociation of Chamber Music Concerts of Paris – Obradous[14]
Engelmann, Hans UlrichAtlantische Ballade for soprano, baritone, and string quartet1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Stix, Rehfuss, Drolc Quartet[15]
Finzi, GeraldCello Concerto1955-07-19 Cheltenham (Festival)Bunting / Hallé Orchestra – Barbirolli[16]
Fricker, Peter RacineThree Movements for viola solo1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Zug[15]
Gerhard, RobertoSymphony No. 11955-06-21 Baden-Baden (ISCM Festival)SWF Symphony – Rosbaud[17][18]
Hanson, HowardSinfonia sacra (Symphony No. 5)1955-02-18 PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Orchestra – Ormandy[19]
Heiss, HermannSinfonia giocosa1955-06-04 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Landestheater-Orchester Darmstadt – Sanzogno[20]
Helm, Everett B.Eight minutes for two pianos1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Seemann, Schröter[15]
Hovhaness, AlanSymphony No. 2, Mysterious Mountain1955-10-31 HoustonHouston Symphony – Stokowski[21]
Klebe, GiselherSonata No. 2 for solo violin, Op. 201955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Kolisch[13]
Leibowitz, RenéConcerto for viola and chamber orchestra1955-06-04 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Mann / Landestheater-Orchester Darmstadt – Sanzogno[20]
Lutoslawski, WitoldDance Preludes for clarinet and piano11955-02-15 WarsawKurkiewicz, Nadgryzowski[22]
Maderna, BrunoString Quartet1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Drolc Quartet[13]
Martinů, BohuslavFantaisies symphoniques (Symphony No. 6)1955-01-05 BostonBoston Symphony – Munch[23]
Milhaud, DariusSymphony No. 61955-10-07 BostonBoston Symphony – Munch[24]
Milhaud, DariusSymphony No. 71955-09-13 Venice (Biennale)INR Orchestra – André[25]
Montsalvatge, XavierCalidoscopi simfònic1955-05-06 BarcelonaBarcelona Municipal Orchestra – Toldrà[26]
Nono, LuigiCanti per tredici1955-03-26 ParisDomaine Musical – Boulez[27]
Nono, LuigiIncontri1955-05-30 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)SWF Symphony – Rosbaud[28]
Piston, WalterSymphony No. 61955-11-25 BostonBoston Symphony – Munch[24]
Rodrigo, JoaquínPavana real, ballet1955-12-19 BarcelonaLiceu Symphony – Sardó[29]
Sauguet, HenriSymphony No. 3, I.N.R.1955-09-13 Venice (Biennale)Belgian Radio Orchestra – André[25]
Schuman, WilliamCredendum1955-11-04 CincinnatiCincinnati Symphony – Johnson[30]
Shostakovich, DmitriFrom Jewish Folk Poetry (1948)1955-01-15 LeningradDorliak, Dolukhanova, Maslennikov, Shostakovich [31]
Shostakovich, DmitriViolin Concerto No. 11955-10-29 LeningradOistrakh / Leningrad Philharmonic – Mravinsky [32]
Stockhausen, KarlheinzKlavierstücke VI–VIII21955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Mercenier[33]
Tansman, AlexandreConcerto for Orchestra1955-09-13 Venice (Biennale)Belgian Radio Orchestra – André[25]
Tippett, MichaelSonata for Four Horns1955-12-20 LondonDennis Brain Wind Ensemble[34]
Toch, ErnstSymphony No. 3 — [1956 Pulitzer]1955-12-02 PittsburghPittsburgh Symphony – Steinberg[35]
Togni, CamilloHelian for soprano and piano1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Stix, Togni[13]
Tubin, EduardSymphony No. 61955-09-30 StockholmSwedish Radio Symphony – Mann[36]
Villa-Lobos, HeitorCello Concerto No. 21955-02-05 New York CityParisot / New York Philharmonic – Hendl[37]
Villa-Lobos, HeitorHarp Concerto1955-01-14 PhiladelphiaZabaleta / Philadelphia Orchestra – Villa-Lobos[38]
Waxman, FranzSinfonietta for Strings and Timpani1955-10-30 ZurichZurich Radio Symphony – Liebermann[39]
Xenakis, IannisMetastaseis1955-10-16 Donaueschingen (Musiktage)SWF Symphony – Rosbaud[40]
Zimmermann, Bernd AloisPerspektiven for two pianos1955-06-01 Darmstadt (Ferienkurse)Rossmann, Maderna[15]
  • 1 A second version for clarinet and chamber orchestra is recorded this year by Alojcy Szulc and the Polish National Radio Symphony conducted by Jan Krenz, though it does not receive a concert premiere until the 1963 Aldeburgh Festival.[41]
  • 2 Official premieres. In fact, Klavierstücke VII and VIII had been performed already by David Tudor in New York on 15 December 1954.[42] Mercenier claimed not to have performed VI at all, though a recording of the performance in the Darmstadt archives includes a truncated version of it, as well as a failed attempt at VII disrupted by a sustained audience disturbance after three pages. After an intervention by Luigi Nono. Mercenier made a second attempt to perform the piece, but was once again obliged to stop when she could not hear what she was playing because of the audience uproar.[43]

Compositions

Opera

Jazz
Main article: 1955 in jazz

Musical theater
Composer Leonard Bernstein in 1955.

Musical films

Musical television
  • Heidi – television production
  • Our Town – television production
  • Together With Music – CBS television production by Noël Coward

Births

Deaths

References
  1. Gloag, Kenneth (2013). "Tippett's operatic world: from The Midsummer Marriage to New Year". In Gloag, Kenneth; Jones, Nicholas (eds.). The Cambridge Companion to Michael Tippett. Cambridge University Press. pp. 230–31. ISBN 978-1-107-60613-5.
  2. Fleming, Colin (28 November 2003). "Reissues: Glenn Gould – 'A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981' [review]". Goldmine 29 (24): 63.
  3. Paxman, Jon (2014). Classical Music 1600–2000: A Chronology. London: Omnibus. ISBN 978-1-84449-773-7.
  4. Denisoff, R. Serge; Schurk, William L. (1986). Tarnished Gold: the record industry revisited. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers. p. 3. ISBN 0887380689.
  5. "Mimusique n. 2 – Centro Studi Luciano Berio – Luciano Berio's Official Website".
  6. "Boris Blacher – Viola Concerto".
  7. "BLISS, A.: Meditations on a Theme by John Blow / Metamorphic Variations (Bournemouth Symphony, Lloyd-Jones)".
  8. Burn, Andrew (2004). "Bliss, Sir Arthur Edward Drummond (1891–1975)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/30827. Retrieved 2015-01-06. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  9. Audiophile Audition
  10. "Complete list of Feeney Commissions – The John Feeney Charitable Trust".
  11. Kendall, Alan. The Chronicle of Classical Music, page 240
  12. AG, Universal Edition. "Universal Edition: Pierre Boulez – Le Marteau sans maître".
  13. Imke Misch and Markus Bandur (eds.), Karlheinz Stockhausen bei den Internationalen Ferienkursen für Neue Musik in Darmstadt 1951–1996: Dokumente und Briefe (Kürten: Stockhausen Stiftung für Musik, 2001): 98. ISBN 3-00-007290-X.
  14. Pascal Bentoiu, Masterworks of George Enescu: A Detailed Analysis, translated by Lory Wallfisch (Lanham, MD; Plymouth, UK: Scarecrow Press, 2010): 492. ISBN 978-0-8108-7665-1.
  15. Imke Misch and Markus Bandur (eds.), Karlheinz Stockhausen bei den Internationalen Ferienkursen für Neue Musik in Darmstadt 1951–1996: Dokumente und Briefe (Kürten: Stockhausen Stiftung für Musik, 2001): 94. ISBN 3-00-007290-X.
  16. McVeagh, Diana (1 January 2010). Gerald Finzi: His Life and Music. Boydell & Brewer. ISBN 9781843836025 – via Google Books.
  17. "Roberto Gerhard Published images – Cambridge University Library". Archived from the original on 2015-07-06. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  18. RECORDS, CHANDOS. "Chandos Records Classical Music CDs and MP3 Downloads OnLine" (PDF).
  19. "New Music Box" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  20. Imke Misch and Markus Bandur (eds.), Karlheinz Stockhausen bei den Internationalen Ferienkursen für Neue Musik in Darmstadt 1951–1996: Dokumente und Briefe (Kürten: Stockhausen Stiftung für Musik, 2001): 95. ISBN 3-00-007290-X.
  21. "Leopold Stokowski Letters".
  22. Rae, Charles Bodman (9 April 2012). The Music Of Lutoslawski. Music Sales Group. ISBN 9780857126757 – via Google Books.
  23. "MARTINU, B.: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 6".
  24. "World Premieres: The 1900s - Boston Symphony Orchestra - bso.org".
  25. "Venice Biennale" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  26. "Xavier Montsalvatge Compositor".
  27. psegno, davidia. "Canti per 13 – Fondazione Archivio Luigi Nono Onlus".
  28. psegno, davidia. "Incontri – Fondazione Archivio Luigi Nono Onlus".
  29. "Joaquín Rodrigo – Pavana Real (1955)".
  30. Adams, K. Gary (1 January 1998). William Schuman: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313273599 – via Google Books.
  31. Moshevich, Sofia (1 January 2004). Dmitri Shostakovich, Pianist. McGill-Queen's Press – MQUP. ISBN 9780773525818 – via Google Books.
  32. Steinberg, Michael (1 January 1998). The Concerto: A Listener's Guide. Oxford University Press. p. 439. ISBN 9780195103304 – via Internet Archive. violin concerto 1 shostakovich mravinsky 1955 october.
  33. "Karlheinz Stockhausen".
  34. Schott Music
  35. Fischer, Heinz Dietrich (1 January 2010). The Pulitzer Prize Winners for Music: Composer Biographies, Premiere Programs and Jury Reports. Peter Lang. ISBN 9783631596081 – via Google Books.
  36. http://www.artmedia.ee, Art Media Agency OÜ. "Tubin, Eduard – Estonian Music Information Centre".
  37. "Indiana University". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  38. "Harp Concerto – Heitor Villa-Lobos Website". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  39. "Sinfonietta – Franz Waxman®".
  40. "Chapter 14: Beethoven Was Wrong (for iPad)".
  41. "Lutoslawski: Detailed List of Works". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  42. Martin Iddon, New Music at Darmstadt: Nono, Stockhausen, Cage, and Boulez Music since 1900 (Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013): 163.
  43. Michael Kurtz, Stockhausen: A Biography, translated by Richard Toop (London and Boston: Faber and Faber, 1992): 76–77, 241n21.
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