The year 1678 in music involved some significant events. Events January 2 – Public opera in Hamburg begins when the Oper am Gänsemarkt is inaugurated with a performance of Johann Theile's biblical Singspiel . May 4 – André Campra begins ecclesiastical studies at the age of 17. June 19 – Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers is appointed to join Nicolas Lebègue, Jacques Thomelin and Jean Buterne as an organists of the Chapelle Royale at the French court. John Blow becomes a doctor of music. Seventeen-year-old Giacomo Antonio Perti composes his first opera. The is constructed, the grandest opera house in Venice. Published popular music Classical music Albertus Bryne – 5 dance movements Henry Purcell – 3 Parts upon a Ground, Z.731 Giovanni Buonaventura Viviani – Capricci armonici da chiesa e da camera, Op.4 Bernardo Pasquini – Sant'Agnese Giovanni Paolo Colonna – Il transito di S. Giuseppe Opera Jean-Baptiste Lully Psyche Bellérophon, LWV 57 Johann Theile – . Carlo Pallavicino – Il Vespasiano Giovanni Maria Bononcini – Astianatte La Despina, Agnelli, Milano 1678, performed in Milan. Births March 4 – Antonio Vivaldi, composer (died 1741) July 6 – Nicola Francesco Haym, opera librettist and composer (died 1727) December 30 – William Croft, organist and composer (died 1727) probable – Manuel de Zumaya, composer (died 1755) Deaths March – Jacques Hardel, harpsichordist and composer August 5 – Juan García de Zéspedes, composer (born 1619) September 28 – Maurizio Cazzati, Italian composer (born 1616) November 18 – Giovanni Maria Bononcini, violinist and composer date unknown Leonora Duarte, composer John Jenkins, composer (born 1592) probable – Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, Benedictine nun and composer (born 1602) References 17th century in music Music by year