Wikipedia

1954 in music

List of years in music (table)
Flamenco guitarist Carlos Montoya in 1954

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1954.

Specific locations

  • 1954 in British music
  • 1954 in Norwegian music

Specific genres

Events

Albums released

Biggest hit singles

The following singles achieved the highest chart positions in the set of charts available for 1954.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart Entries
1 The Chordettes Mr. Sandman 1954 United States US Billboard 1 – Oct 1954 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Nov 1954 (8 weeks), US 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, US CashBox 1 – Oct 1954 (23 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 6 weeks – Jan 1955, Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Apr 1955, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 (1954), Peel list 1 of 1954, US BB 5 of 1954, DZE 5 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 6 of 1954, POP 7 of 1954, RYM 9 of 1954, UK 11 – Dec 1954 (8 weeks), Brazil 27 of 1955, DDD 45 of 1954, RIAA 252, Acclaimed 1006 (1954)
2 Doris Day Secret Love 1954 United States UK 1 – Apr 1954 (29 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Jan 1954 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jan 1954 (20 weeks), US 1 for 3 weeks – Feb 1954, US CashBox 1 – Nov 1953 (30 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 7 weeks – May 1954, Oscar in 1953 (film 'Calamity Jane'), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1953), UKMIX 7, DZE 8 of 1954, US BB 11 of 1954, POP 11 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 12 of 1954, RYM 12 of 1953, Brazil 17 of 1954, Italy 54 of 1954
3 The Crew-Cuts Sh-Boom 1954 United States US Billboard 1 – Jul 1954 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954 (20 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks – Aug 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954 (24 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Dec 1954, DZE 1 of 1954, US BB 3 of 1954, Flanders 3 – Dec 1954 (3 months), POP 3 of 1954, UK 12 – Oct 1954 (9 weeks), Brazil 13 of 1954, France (50s) 20 of 1954, RYM 22 of 1954, Italy 95 of 1955
4 Kitty Kallen Little Things Mean a Lot 1954 United States UK 1 – Jul 1954 (23 weeks), US Billboard 1 – Apr 1954 (26 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Apr 1954 (25 weeks), US 1 for 9 weeks – Jun 1954, US CashBox 1 – Apr 1954 (28 weeks), Radio Luxembourg sheet music 1 for 12 weeks – Jul 1954, Australia 1 for 5 weeks – Oct 1954, DZE 2 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 9 of 1954, US BB 15 of 1954, POP 15 of 1954, UKMIX 28, RYM 145 of 1954
5 Rosemary Clooney Hey There 1954 United States US Billboard 1 – Jul 1954 (27 weeks), US 1940s 1 – Jul 1954 (23 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks – Sep 1954, US CashBox 1 – Jul 1954 (31 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks – Feb 1957, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1954), UK 4 – Oct 1955 (11 weeks), DZE 7 of 1954, Your Hit Parade 14 of 1954, US BB 18 of 1954, POP 21 of 1954, Brazil 31 of 1954, RYM 34 of 1954, DDD 66 of 1954

US No. 1 hit singles

These singles reached the top of US Billboard magazine's charts in 1954.

First week Number of weeks Title Artist
January 2, 1954 8 "Oh! My Pa-Pa" Eddie Fisher
February 27, 1954 2 "Secret Love" Doris Day
March 13, 1954 1 "Make Love to Me" Jo Stafford
March 20, 1954 1 "Secret Love" Doris Day
March 27, 1954 2 "Make Love to Me" Jo Stafford
April 10, 1954 8 "Wanted" Perry Como
June 5, 1954 9 "Little Things Mean a Lot" Kitty Kallen
August 7, 1954 7 "Sh-Boom" Crew-Cuts
September 25, 1954 6 "Hey There" Rosemary Clooney
November 6, 1954 1 "This Ole House" Rosemary Clooney
November 13, 1954 3 "I Need You Now" Eddie Fisher
December 4, 1954 7 "Mr. Sandman" The Chordettes

Top hits on record

A-J

L-S

T-Y

Top R&B and country hits on record

Published popular music

Other notable songs

  • "Le Déserteur" – Boris Vian
  • "V Put" – Vasili Solovyov-Sedoy and Mikhail Dudin

Classical music

Premieres

Sortable table
Composer Composition Date Location Performers
Brian, Havergal Symphony No. 8 (1949) 1954-02-01 United Kingdom London London Philharmonic – Boult [10]
Chávez, Carlos Symphony No. 3 1954-12-09 Venezuela Caracas Venezuela Symphony – Chávez[11]
Dohnányi, Ernő American Rhapsody 1954-02-21 United States Athens, OH ? – Dohnányi[12]
Enescu, George String Quartet No. 2, Op. 22, No. 2 1954-02-07 United States Boston Stradivarius Quartet[13]
Goeyvaerts, Karel Nummer 5 1954-10-19 West Germany Cologne (Musik der Zeit)[14] electronic music
Jolivet, André Symphony No. 1 1954-05-30 Israel Haifa (ISCM Festival) [unknown orchestra and conductor] [15]
Korngold, Erich W. Symphony 1954-10-17 Austria Vienna Vienna Symphony – Harold Byrns1[16]
Lutoslawski, Witold Concerto for Orchestra 1954-11-26 Poland Warsaw Warsaw Philharmonic – Rowicki[17]
Persichetti, Vincent Symphony No. 4 1954-12-17 United States Philadelphia Philadelphia Orchestra – Ormandy[18]
Rubbra, Edmund Symphony No. 6 1954-11-17 United Kingdom London BBC Symphony – Sargent[19]
Shchedrin, Rodion Piano Concerto No. 1 1954-11-07 Soviet Union Moscow Shchedrin / Moscow Conservatory Symphony – Rozhdestvensky[20]
Shostakovich, Dmitri Festive Overture 1954-11-06 Soviet Union Moscow Bolshoi Orchestra – Nebolsin[21]
Stockhausen, Karlheinz Klavierstücke I–V 1954-08-21 West Germany Darmstadt (Ferienkurse) Mercenier[22]
Karlheinz Stockhausen Studie I + Studie II 1954-10-19 West Germany Cologne (Musik der Zeit)[14] electronic music
Stravinsky, Igor In memoriam Dylan Thomas 1954-09-20 United States Los Angeles (Monday Evening Concerts) Robinson, Baker, Babitz, Figelski, Neikrug, Bohannon, Howard, Ulyate, Zeldin – Craft[23][24]
Thomson, Virgil Concerto for Flute, Strings, Harp and Percussion 1954-09-17 Italy Venice (Biennale) La Fenice Philharmonic – Sanzogno[25]
Varèse, Edgard Déserts 1954-12-02 France Paris Henry / French Radio National Orchestra – Scherchen[26]
Vaughan Williams, Ralph Tuba Concerto 1954-06-13 United Kingdom London Catelinet / London Symphony – Barbirolli[27]
Villa-Lobos, Heitor Odisseia de uma raça, symphonic poem 1954-05-30 Israel Haifa (ISCM Festival) Israel Philharmonic – Taube[28]
Villa-Lobos, Heitor Rudá (Dio d'amore), symphonic poem and ballet 1954-08-30 France Paris French Radio National Orchestra – Villa-Lobos[29]
Villa-Lobos, Heitor String Quartet No. 14 1954-08-11 United States Ann Arbor Stanley Quartet[30]
  • 1 Recording for the Austrian Radio. The Symphony received its two first concert performances in 1955 under Alois Melichar in Graz and Jan Koetsier in Munich.[31]

Compositions

Witold Lutoslawski in 1952/53. The Concerto for Orchestra launched his international career

Opera

Jazz

Main article: 1954 in jazz

Musical theater

  • After the Ball (Music, Lyrics and Book: Noël Coward) London production opened at the Globe Theatre on June 10 and ran for 188 performances
  • The Boy Friend Broadway production opened at the Royale Theatre on September 30 and ran for 485 performances
  • By the Beautiful Sea (Music: Arthur Schwartz Lyrics: Dorothy Fields) Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre on April 8 and transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 2 for a total run of 268 performances. Starring Shirley Booth
  • Can-Can London production opened at the Coliseum on October 14 and ran for 394 performances
  • The Duenna ( Music: Julian Slade Lyrics & Book: Dorothy Reynolds) London production opened at the Westminster Theatre on July 28 and ran for 134 performances
  • Fanny Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre on November 4 and transferred to the Belasco Theatre on December 4, 1956, for a total run of 888 performances
  • The Girl in Pink Tights Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 5 and ran for 115 performances
  • The Golden Apple Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 20 and ran for 125 performances
  • Happy Holiday (Music: George Posford Lyrics & Book: Eric Maschwitz and Arnold Ridley) London production opened at the Palace Theatre on December 22 and ran for 31 performances
  • House of Flowers Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on December 30 and ran for 165 performances
  • On Your Toes Broadway revival opened at the 46th Street Theatre on October 11 and ran for 64 performances
  • The Pajama Game (Richard Adler and Jerry Ross) — Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on May 13 and transferred to the Shubert Theatre on November 24, 1956, for a total run of 1063 performances
  • Pal Joey (Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: John O'Hara) London production opened at Princes Theatre on August 4 and ran for 245 performances
  • Peter Pan Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on October 20 and ran for 152 performances
  • Salad Days (Music: Julian Slade Lyrics & Book: Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade) London production opened at the Vaudeville Theatre on August 5 and ran for 2283 performances
  • You'll Be Lucky London revue opened at the Adelphi Theatre on February 25. Starring Sally Barnes and Lauri Lupino Lane.
  • Zuleika — premiere in Cambridge, England

Musical films

Ethel Merman sings the title number of the 1954 film There's No Business Like Show Business.

Musical television

Births

January–April

May–December

Deaths

References

  1. ^ Anon. "Arnold Schoenberg: Moses und Aaron". Metropolitan Opera International Radio Broadcast Information Center (Archived copy from 14 April 2012, accessed 20 April 2013).
  2. ^ "The 26th Academy Awards | 1954". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  3. ^ Bill Haley at AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
  4. ^ Anon., "'Maggio Musicale': Spontini Opera to Be Revived", The Times Issue 52830 (15 January 1954): 10D; Anon., "Opening of 'Maggio Musicale': Orchestra's Anniversary", The Times Issue 52927 (10 May 1954): 9D.
  5. ^ "Elvis Presley records "That's All Right (Mama)"". This Day in History. History. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  6. ^ Harvey Rachlin (15 March 2020). Song and System: The Making of American Pop Music. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-5381-1213-7.
  7. ^ "Lyric Opera House History". Lyric Opera of Chicago.
  8. ^ Gulla, Bob (2008). Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists Who Revolutionized Rhythm. ABC-CLIO. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-313-34044-4.
  9. ^ "São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra". Osesp.
  10. ^ "Symphony 8".
  11. ^ "Ronpenndorf.com". Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
  12. ^ "Dohnányi, Ernst von".
  13. ^ Bentoiu, Pascal (11 October 2010). Masterworks of George Enescu: A Detailed Analysis. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810876903 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ a b Marietta Morawska-Büngeler, Schwingende Elektronen: ine Dokumentation über das Studio für Elektronische Musik des Westdeutschen Rundfunks in Köln 1951–1986 (Cologne-Rodenkirchen: P. J. Tonger Musikverlag, 1988): 115.
  15. ^ "Symphonie n°1, André Jolivet".
  16. ^ "YourClassical from American Public Media".
  17. ^ "Concerto for Orchestra (dir. Witold Lutosławski)".
  18. ^ "Vincent Persichetti – biografia e opere".
  19. ^ The Tablet
  20. ^ Sikorski
  21. ^ Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  22. ^ AG, Universal Edition. "Universal Edition: Karlheinz Stockhausen – Klavierstücke 1–4".
  23. ^ White, Eric Walter (1 January 1984). Stravinsky: The Composer and His Works. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520039858 – via Google Books.
  24. ^ Anon., "New Stravinsky Work to Be Featured at First Monday Concert", Los Angeles Times (19 September 1954): D6.
  25. ^ "Venice Biennale" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  26. ^ "Edgar Varèse – Déserts (World Premiere, 1954)". 25 January 2014.
  27. ^ Web(UK), Music on the. "British Tuba Concertos 8.557754 [RB]: Classical CD Reviews- June 2006 MusicWeb-International".
  28. ^ Villa-Lobos, sua obra, second edition ([Rio de Janeiro]: MEC/DAC/Museu Villa-Lobos, 1972): 117.
  29. ^ Villa-Lobos, sua obra, second edition ([Rio de Janeiro]: MEC/DAC/Museu Villa-Lobos, 1972): 119.
  30. ^ David P. Appleby, Heitor Villa-Lobos: A Bio-Bibliography, Bio-Bibliographies inMusic 9 (New York, Westport, London: Greenwood Press, 1988): 116.
  31. ^ International, MusicWeb. "Korngold Symphony Kempe VSD5346 [IL]: Classical Music Reviews – June 2011 MusicWeb-International".
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