1681 in music

The year 1681 in music involved some significant events.

Events

• Arcangelo Corelli is employed by the electoral prince of Bavaria.
• Giovanni Legrenzi becomes assistant maestro di cappella at St Mark's, Venice.
• Jean-Baptiste Lully is appointed court secretary to King Louis XIV of France.
• Antonio Stradivari makes the Fleming violin.

Published popular music

Classical music

• Arcangelo Corelli – Op. 1, 12 trio sonatas

Opera

• Domenico Freschi – Pompeo Magno in Cilicia
• Jean-Baptiste Lully – Le Triomphe de l’Amour (ballet)

Publications

• Andreas Werckmeister – Orgel-Probe (the first appearance of the tuning system known as the Werckmeister temperament)

Births

• March 14 – Georg Philipp Telemann, composer (died 1767)
• September 4 – Carl Heinrich Biber, composer (died 1749)
• September 28 – Johann Mattheson, composer (died 1764)

Deaths

• date unknown – Francesco Corbetta, guitarist and composer (born c.1615)
• date unknown – Benedetto Ferrari, opera composer (born c.1603)