2012 in music

Specific genres

• 2012 in alternative music
• 2012 in classical music
• 2012 in country music
• 2012 in heavy metal music
• 2012 in hip hop music
• 2012 in jazz
• 2012 in Latin music
• 2012 in opera
• 2012 in rock music
• 2012 in South Korean music
• 2012 in Philippine music

Albums released

Classical music

• Hans Abrahamsen – String Quartet No. 4
• John Adams – Absolute Jest, for string quartet and orchestra
• Harrison Birtwistle – The Moth Requiem, for twelve female voices, three harps and alto flute
• Elliott Carter
  • Dialogues II, for piano and chamber orchestra
  • Epigrams, for violin, cello, and piano
  • Instances, for chamber orchestra
• Unsuk Chin – cosmigimmicks. A musical pantomime for seven instrumentalists
• Peter Maxwell Davies – Symphony No. 9
• Clemens Gadenstätter
  • Bersten/Platzen (Paramyth 4), for cello and piano
  • Haüten/Paramyth 1, for string quartet
  • Sad Songs, for quartet with saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, piano and integrated electronics
• Magnus Lindberg – Acequia Madre, for clarinet and piano
• Bruno Mantovani – Concerto pour deux pianos, for two pianos and orchestra
• Tristan Murail
  • The Bronze Age, for flute, clarinet, trombone, violin, cello and piano
  • Le Désenchantement du Monde, piano concerto
• Matthias Pintscher
  • Bereshit, for large ensemble
  • Uriel, for cello and piano
• Alberto Posadas - Sombras, for soprano, clarinet and string quartet
• Eva Reiter – Irrlicht, for ensemble and electronics
• Kaija Saariaho
  • Circle Map, for orchestra and electronics
  • Duft, for clarinet
  • Sombre, for voice, bass flute, percussion, harp, and double bass
• Erkki-Sven Tüür – String Quartet No. 2 Lost Prayers
• Pēteris Vasks – Cello concerto No. 2 Klātbūtne ('Presence')

Opera

• George Benjamin - Written on Skin

Singles

• Who Are You (Emine Sari song), released: 6 June 2012

Deaths

January

• 3 – Daniel Peil (69), American rock singer (The Corporation)
• 4 – Totti Bergh (76), Norwegian jazz saxophonist
  • Ruthilde Boesch (94), Austrian soprano
  • John Levy (99), American jazz upright-bassist
• 26 – Clare Fischer (83), American jazz keyboardist, composer, arranger and bandleader

February

• 11 – Whitney Houston (48), American pop/R&B singer
• 22 – Eivin One Pedersen (55), Norwegian jazz accordionist and pianist
• 25 – Red Holloway (84), American jazz tenor saxophonist
• 29 - Davy Jones (66), English singer (The Monkees)

March

• 1 – Lucio Dalla (68), Italian jazz singer, clarinetist and actor
• 3 – Frank Marocco (81), American jazz piano-accordionist, arranger and composer
• 6 – Robert B. Sherman, 86, American songwriter, brother of Richard M. Sherman (Sherman Brothers)
• 15 – Edvard Hagerup Bull (89), Norwegian composer.

April

• 19 – Greg Ham (58), Australian musician Men at Work

May

• 4 – Adam Yauch (47), American rapper (Beastie Boys)
• 10 – Bernardo Sassetti (41), Portuguese jazz pianist and composer
• 13 – Trond Bråthen alias "Trondr Nefas" (35), Norwegian singer and guitarist of black metal band Urgehal
• 14 – Belita Woods (63), American R&B singer (Brainstorm)
• 17
  • Warda Al-Jazairia (72), French-Algerian singer, in Egypt
  • Donna Summer (63). American singer
• 20 – Robin Gibb (62), British singer (Bee Gees)
• 30 – Pete Cosey (68), American jazz guitarist

June

• 8 – Wilf Doyle (87), Canadian accordionist
• 17 – Brian Hibbard (65), (The Flying Pickets)
• 26 – Harry W. Kvebæk (87), Norwegian classical trumpeter and academic

July

• 7 – Alf Pearson (102), British singer and variety performer (Bob and Alf Pearson)
• 27 – Darryl Cotton (62), Australian pop-rock singer-songwriter (Zoot, Cotton, Lloyd & Christian)
• 31 - Tony Sly (41), Singer, guitarist for punk rock band No Use For a Name

August

• 11 – Von Freeman (88), American jazz saxophonist
• 18 – Scott McKenzie (73), American singer

September

• 25 – Andy Williams (84), American singer
• 26 – Marty Fortson (67), American rock and roll singer (The Rivieras)
• 29 – Johnny Sanders (66), American rock guitarist (The Gants)

October

• 8 – John Tchicai (76), Danish jazz saxophonist and composer
• 26 – Louis Nunley (81), American pop singer (The Anita Kerr Quartet)

November

• 3
  • Anne-Lise Berntsen (69), Norwegian soprano singer
  • Odd Børretzen (85), Norwegian author and folk singer (pneumonia)
• 15 – Frode Thingnæs (72), Norwegian jazz trombonist and bandleader (complications from heart attack)

December

• 5 – Dave Brubeck (91), American jazz pianist and composer

Births

• January 7 - Blue Ivy Carter, first born daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, dancer, singer and activist (Member of greater Knowles family including Grand parents: Mathew Knowles, Tina Knowles, First cousin once removed: Angela Beyincé and Aunt:Solange Knowles)