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This is a list of music-related events in 1808.

Events

  • April – Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 is publicly performed for the first time, at the Burgtheater in Vienna. It was performed privately in 1807.
  • December 20 – The original Covent Garden Theatre in London is destroyed by a fire, along with most of the scenery, costumes and scripts.
  • December 22 – Beethoven concert of 22 December 1808: Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and plays piano in a marathon benefit concert at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna consisting entirely of first public performances of works by him including the Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 6, Piano Concerto No. 4 and Choral Fantasy.
  • Harvard University forms its own orchestra.
  • Ignaz Schuppanzigh's Schuppanzigh Quartet enters the employment of Count Andrey Razumovsky.
  • Ignaz Assmayer becomes organist of St Peter's Abbey, Salzburg.
  • Beethoven's Violin Concerto is published. It has been performed once in 1807.
  • Beethoven's Razumovsky quartets are published.
  • "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms", part of the Irish Melodies by poet Thomas Moore and composer (Sir) John Andrew Stevenson
  • “Poor Will Putty” aka “Smithfield Bargain”, sung by Joseph Grimaldi in Harlequin’s Lottery
  • “A Bull in a China Shop”, sung by Joseph Grimaldi in Harlequin Highflyer, debuted July 4, 1808
  • May 22 – Edmund Ayrton, English organist (born 1734)
  • July 20 – François-Hippolyte Barthélémon, French violinist (born 1741)
  • September 29 – Paul Wranitzky, Moravian composer (born 1756)
  • date unknown – Gaétan Vestris, French ballet dancer (born 1729)

References