Soviet first secretary Khrushchev removes several members of the Central Committee after they unsuccessfully try to remove him from power.

11 Aug.

Die Harmonie der Welt (The Harmony of the World) is performed in Munich, with music by Paul Hindemith.

6 Oct.

Pierre Boulez's Polyphonie X for 17 Solo Instruments is performed at the Donaueschippu Festival of Contemporary Music.

19 Oct.

Gian Carlo Menotti's Apocalypse (symphonic poem) is performed in Pittsburgh.

30 Oct.

Dmitry Shostakovich's Eleventh Symphony (1905) is performed in Moscow.

7 Nov.

Heitor Villa-Lobos's Erosion, or the Origin of the Amazon River (symphonic poem) is performed in Louisville.

23 Dec.

NATO discloses that U.S. delivery of missiles to Western Europe will not begin for two years.