Music Trade Review
Issue: 1881 Vol. 4 N. 11 - Page 6
160
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
July 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
OANDIDUS.
GREAT AMERICAN TENOR :—STOBY OF HIS LIFE, LABOR, AND ARTISTIC TRIUMPHS
IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY.
A MONG the artists engaged by the North American Srengerbund for the
1\. Twenty-second annual Saengerfest, to be held in Chicago, June 29th,
30th, and Julv 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, is a tenor who is to receive 8,400 marks
about $2,500*) for five concerts. Who then is this tenor that commands
erms only given to the world's greatest singers? The answer reveals the
story of an American artist, as yet comparatively unknown in his own coun-
try, although his fame has filled all Germany and England.
William Candidus, Jr., was born of German parents, in Philadelphia,
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL.
about the year 1843. From his childhood he evinced a strong passion for
music, but his father, who was a maker of piano key-boards, instructed him
in the same trade. He also taught him the rudiments of nnisic, and the
boy's natural talent enabled him to progress so rapidly that he was able to
of th.© M i i s i c i a n s
oin a military band as cornet, and the young Mamnerchor Society as first
AND THE MUSIC TRADES OF AMERICA. en or. The latter, in which he served three years, may be called the cradle
of his musical infancy. Carl Sentz, the celebrated bandmaster of Philadel-
phia, who was one of his earliest preceptors, says, " His father was at one
PUBLISHED ON THE 5th & 20th OF EACH MONTH,
time a letter carrier, and made Billy go around with the letters on the early
AT 853 BROADWAY, Corner 14th Street.
trip whenever he felt like sleeping in the morning, and many a good licking
the boy got for oversleeping himself, after a night with the Mfennerchor.'
Under Carl Sentz, who was his friend, companion, and instructor, he made'
his first appearance on the lyric stage, in a little German operetta, " Den-
CHARLES AVERY WELLES,
thote Schneider," (the Dead Tailor) at the old Concordia Theatre.
Editor and Proprietor.
When the echo of the Southern guns that fired on the flag of Sumter in
April, 1861, resounded through the North, and the long roll called the sons
of the Great Republic to arms, young Candidus dropped his tools and
AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF THE
marched to the front as a private in Co. F., of the regiment (Col. Patterson's
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
17th Pa. Militia) formed out of the Washington Greys. Carl Sentz, who
joined the same regiment as a private, was subsequently made bandmaster,
N«w York City.
and it was a standing joke at roll call, wnen the question was asked, " Where
THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, AND BRANCHES.
BRENT ANOS, 39 Union Square.
is Candidus?" for some comrade to reply, "with the band." When the
NEWS STAND UNION SQUARE HOTEL. 15th Street and 4th Avenue.
regiment was mustered out in three months, he returned to the field as First
THE ARCADE NEWS KOOMS, 71 Broadway, (Elevated Rail Road Main Station).
Lieutenant in the 112th Regiment, Pa. Vols., Col. Gibson, of which his
Boston.
father was major, and served faithfully, enduring all the hardships of a
JOHN F. PERRY & CO., 13 West Street.
three year's campaign with the Army of the Potomac, until the regiment
NKWS STAND, Youngs'Hotel.
NEWS STAND, 1 arker House.
was mustered out of service.
LOKING'S LIBRARY, Washington Street.
After leaving the army, in 1864, Candidus felt that Philadelphia pre-
Chicago.
sented but few opportunities for one who desired to achieve distinction in
THE ROOT & SONS' MUSIC CO., 156 State.Street.
the musical profession, so he immediately sought, and obtained employ-
S. BRAINARD'S SONS, 158 State Street.
ment in the piano manufacturing establishment of the late Henry Steinway,
THE CHICAGO MUSIC CO., 15a State Street.
now of world-wide fame as Steinway's Sons. Here he was thrown con-
Philadelphia.
stantly in the society of musicians and operatic artists, and the compli-
W. H. BONER & CO.
ments they bestowed upon his voice and the advice he received to study for
J. DITSON & CO.
the operatic stage increased his determination to do so as soon as his cir-
Baltimore.
cumstances would permit. He at once joined the Arion, and the director,
OTTO SUTRO.
GEO. WIUJG & CO.
Carl Bergmann, gave him an opportunity to appear as a soloist. The
timbre of his voice, its phenomenal purity, sympathetic quality and power,
New Orleans.
elicited the praise of the public press, and having in the meanwhile wooed
LOUIS GRUNEWALD.
and won the hand of Minna, the youngest daughter of the late Henry Stein-
Albany, N. Y.
way, he put into execution his long delayed purpose, and set sail for
C. E. WENDELL.
Europe in 1872 to cultivate, under the best musicians, the phenomenal voice
. Troy. N. Y.
which nature had bestowed upon him.
CLUETT & SONS.
The best teacher for the voice in Berlin was at that time (1872) an old
Buffalo, N . Y.
Bohemian professor, named Konopasek, and under him Candidus pursued his
DENTON & COTTIER, Main Street.
vocal studies with enthusiasm for one year and a half. So great was his
A. J. HAWKS, 31 East Seneca Street.
C. S. RILEY, 313 Main Street.
desire for rapid progress that his teacher had to put a curb upon his impati-
ence, and advised him not to devote so much time to study. At one time,
Syracuse, N. Y.
during a lesson which had already been prolonged beyond the usual time,
HUCKMAN & HERRICK, 7 Larned Block.
old Konopasek said to him, as he stretched forth his two hands in a suppli-
Worcester, Mass.
cating manner, "My dear pupil! your energy will bring me in my grave."
S. R. LELAND & CO.
NEWS STAND, Post Office.
Upon the completion of his studies with Konopasek, in 1874, he made his
NEWS feTAND, R. R. Depot.
debut in the title role of Alessandro Stradella, in the old classic theatre at
Weimar, with such genuine success that even the chorus and orchestra
Cleveland, Ohio.
joined the public in the applause with which he was called before the cur-
S. BRAINARD'S SONS.
tain at the end of each act. In this theatre, and subsequently at the
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Royal Opera Houses of Schwerin, Hanover, Munich, and also the Imperial
D. H. BALDWIN & CO.
Opera House of Berlin, he appeared with the same success in the " Hugue-
San Francisco.
nots," "William Tell," "Martha," " Freischutz," " Ballo Maschera," and
MATTHIAS GRAY
a number of German operas. He also appeared at all the great concerts,
London, Eng.
like those given at the Gewandhaus, Leipsic, and his repertory contains
WILLIAM REEVES, 185 Fleet Street.
AMERICAN EXCHANGE IN EUROPE, HENRY F. GlLLTG, General Manager, 44! twenty-six oratorios, all of which he has sung in public.
Strand, London, W. C.
In the latter part of 1875 his operatic triumphs were brought to a sud-
Sydney, Australia.
den termination, and his great joy turned into greater sorrow by the death
NICHOLSON & ASCHERBERG.
of his wife, which threw him iuto such a despondency that his friends were
alarmed least his mind might become unsettled, and at their advice he re-
Melbourne, Australia.
turned to America. It was thought the re-union with his parents, the
NICHOLSON & ASCHERBERG.
change of scene, and the great attractions of the Centennial Exhibition
Toronto, Canada.
would revive his spirits and make him forget his grief. He arrived in Phila-
A. & S. NORDHEIMER.
delphia in 1876, while the finishing preparations were being made for the
AaU for t h e MUSICAL. CRITIC AND TRVDK R E V I E W a t a n y New
opening ceremonies of the Exhibition, at which he received an invitation to
Stand or Music More I n a n y City.
be present, but again the hand of death entered the family circle, and again
a happy home was changed into a house of mourning, by the death of
All communications should be addressed to the editor, CHABLKS AVKRY WELLES. 85
Major Candidus, his father, on the very day before the Exhibition opened its
Broadway, N. Y. City.
Checks and Post-Offlce Orders should be made payable to CHARLES AVKRY WELLES, Pro doors. In comforting his mother his own mind was withdrawn from his first
prietor.
sorrow, and as he was now resolved to live for his art alone, he determined
We are not responsible for the return of rejected manuscript.
Correspondence must always be accompanied by the name and address of the sender, no to devote the next two years of retirement to the study of the Italian lan-
necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
guage and method of vocalization.
Trade reports, items and communications, relating to the music trade, are solicited from
In 1876 he arrived in Milan, placed himself under the instruction of
all parts of the world.
Signor Ronchetti, the pupil, companion and friend of the great tenor,
Rubini, and the best teacher in Italy. Under such a master and with the
NEW YORK, JULY 5, 1881.
knowledge he already possessed, he would have naturally made rapid pro-
gress, but his incessant study, to the exclusion of any pleasure or recreation,
ADVERTISING KATES.
caused Ronchetti to remonstrate with him about his restless^ energy. His
One I n c h (Two columns to the page.)
Per quarter, $20.OC progress, rapid as it was, never seemed to satisfy him, and even if a particularly
difficult fioriture satisfied his teacher, he always wished to do it better.
ADVERTISING CARDS,
I I n c h (Three columns to the page)
Per quarter, $14.0 This sometimes provoked Ronchetti, and upon one occasion he exclaimed
with warmth, as he turned to leave the room :
t Poet-paid one year, invariably in advance,
$3
"Lie vol can tare come un Dio; quella non e possibile " (" you want to
SUBSCRIPTION :
(Single copies
1C sing like a God, but that's impossible.") He could not help laughing, how-
OIRGh
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
July 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
OANDIDUS.
GREAT AMERICAN TENOR :—STOBY OF HIS LIFE, LABOR, AND ARTISTIC TRIUMPHS
IN ENGLAND AND GERMANY.
A MONG the artists engaged by the North American Srengerbund for the
1\. Twenty-second annual Saengerfest, to be held in Chicago, June 29th,
30th, and Julv 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, is a tenor who is to receive 8,400 marks
about $2,500*) for five concerts. Who then is this tenor that commands
erms only given to the world's greatest singers? The answer reveals the
story of an American artist, as yet comparatively unknown in his own coun-
try, although his fame has filled all Germany and England.
William Candidus, Jr., was born of German parents, in Philadelphia,
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL.
about the year 1843. From his childhood he evinced a strong passion for
music, but his father, who was a maker of piano key-boards, instructed him
in the same trade. He also taught him the rudiments of nnisic, and the
boy's natural talent enabled him to progress so rapidly that he was able to
of th.© M i i s i c i a n s
oin a military band as cornet, and the young Mamnerchor Society as first
AND THE MUSIC TRADES OF AMERICA. en or. The latter, in which he served three years, may be called the cradle
of his musical infancy. Carl Sentz, the celebrated bandmaster of Philadel-
phia, who was one of his earliest preceptors, says, " His father was at one
PUBLISHED ON THE 5th & 20th OF EACH MONTH,
time a letter carrier, and made Billy go around with the letters on the early
AT 853 BROADWAY, Corner 14th Street.
trip whenever he felt like sleeping in the morning, and many a good licking
the boy got for oversleeping himself, after a night with the Mfennerchor.'
Under Carl Sentz, who was his friend, companion, and instructor, he made'
his first appearance on the lyric stage, in a little German operetta, " Den-
CHARLES AVERY WELLES,
thote Schneider," (the Dead Tailor) at the old Concordia Theatre.
Editor and Proprietor.
When the echo of the Southern guns that fired on the flag of Sumter in
April, 1861, resounded through the North, and the long roll called the sons
of the Great Republic to arms, young Candidus dropped his tools and
AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF THE
marched to the front as a private in Co. F., of the regiment (Col. Patterson's
MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
17th Pa. Militia) formed out of the Washington Greys. Carl Sentz, who
joined the same regiment as a private, was subsequently made bandmaster,
N«w York City.
and it was a standing joke at roll call, wnen the question was asked, " Where
THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, AND BRANCHES.
BRENT ANOS, 39 Union Square.
is Candidus?" for some comrade to reply, "with the band." When the
NEWS STAND UNION SQUARE HOTEL. 15th Street and 4th Avenue.
regiment was mustered out in three months, he returned to the field as First
THE ARCADE NEWS KOOMS, 71 Broadway, (Elevated Rail Road Main Station).
Lieutenant in the 112th Regiment, Pa. Vols., Col. Gibson, of which his
Boston.
father was major, and served faithfully, enduring all the hardships of a
JOHN F. PERRY & CO., 13 West Street.
three year's campaign with the Army of the Potomac, until the regiment
NKWS STAND, Youngs'Hotel.
NEWS STAND, 1 arker House.
was mustered out of service.
LOKING'S LIBRARY, Washington Street.
After leaving the army, in 1864, Candidus felt that Philadelphia pre-
Chicago.
sented but few opportunities for one who desired to achieve distinction in
THE ROOT & SONS' MUSIC CO., 156 State.Street.
the musical profession, so he immediately sought, and obtained employ-
S. BRAINARD'S SONS, 158 State Street.
ment in the piano manufacturing establishment of the late Henry Steinway,
THE CHICAGO MUSIC CO., 15a State Street.
now of world-wide fame as Steinway's Sons. Here he was thrown con-
Philadelphia.
stantly in the society of musicians and operatic artists, and the compli-
W. H. BONER & CO.
ments they bestowed upon his voice and the advice he received to study for
J. DITSON & CO.
the operatic stage increased his determination to do so as soon as his cir-
Baltimore.
cumstances would permit. He at once joined the Arion, and the director,
OTTO SUTRO.
GEO. WIUJG & CO.
Carl Bergmann, gave him an opportunity to appear as a soloist. The
timbre of his voice, its phenomenal purity, sympathetic quality and power,
New Orleans.
elicited the praise of the public press, and having in the meanwhile wooed
LOUIS GRUNEWALD.
and won the hand of Minna, the youngest daughter of the late Henry Stein-
Albany, N. Y.
way, he put into execution his long delayed purpose, and set sail for
C. E. WENDELL.
Europe in 1872 to cultivate, under the best musicians, the phenomenal voice
. Troy. N. Y.
which nature had bestowed upon him.
CLUETT & SONS.
The best teacher for the voice in Berlin was at that time (1872) an old
Buffalo, N . Y.
Bohemian professor, named Konopasek, and under him Candidus pursued his
DENTON & COTTIER, Main Street.
vocal studies with enthusiasm for one year and a half. So great was his
A. J. HAWKS, 31 East Seneca Street.
C. S. RILEY, 313 Main Street.
desire for rapid progress that his teacher had to put a curb upon his impati-
ence, and advised him not to devote so much time to study. At one time,
Syracuse, N. Y.
during a lesson which had already been prolonged beyond the usual time,
HUCKMAN & HERRICK, 7 Larned Block.
old Konopasek said to him, as he stretched forth his two hands in a suppli-
Worcester, Mass.
cating manner, "My dear pupil! your energy will bring me in my grave."
S. R. LELAND & CO.
NEWS STAND, Post Office.
Upon the completion of his studies with Konopasek, in 1874, he made his
NEWS feTAND, R. R. Depot.
debut in the title role of Alessandro Stradella, in the old classic theatre at
Weimar, with such genuine success that even the chorus and orchestra
Cleveland, Ohio.
joined the public in the applause with which he was called before the cur-
S. BRAINARD'S SONS.
tain at the end of each act. In this theatre, and subsequently at the
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Royal Opera Houses of Schwerin, Hanover, Munich, and also the Imperial
D. H. BALDWIN & CO.
Opera House of Berlin, he appeared with the same success in the " Hugue-
San Francisco.
nots," "William Tell," "Martha," " Freischutz," " Ballo Maschera," and
MATTHIAS GRAY
a number of German operas. He also appeared at all the great concerts,
London, Eng.
like those given at the Gewandhaus, Leipsic, and his repertory contains
WILLIAM REEVES, 185 Fleet Street.
AMERICAN EXCHANGE IN EUROPE, HENRY F. GlLLTG, General Manager, 44! twenty-six oratorios, all of which he has sung in public.
Strand, London, W. C.
In the latter part of 1875 his operatic triumphs were brought to a sud-
Sydney, Australia.
den termination, and his great joy turned into greater sorrow by the death
NICHOLSON & ASCHERBERG.
of his wife, which threw him iuto such a despondency that his friends were
alarmed least his mind might become unsettled, and at their advice he re-
Melbourne, Australia.
turned to America. It was thought the re-union with his parents, the
NICHOLSON & ASCHERBERG.
change of scene, and the great attractions of the Centennial Exhibition
Toronto, Canada.
would revive his spirits and make him forget his grief. He arrived in Phila-
A. & S. NORDHEIMER.
delphia in 1876, while the finishing preparations were being made for the
AaU for t h e MUSICAL. CRITIC AND TRVDK R E V I E W a t a n y New
opening ceremonies of the Exhibition, at which he received an invitation to
Stand or Music More I n a n y City.
be present, but again the hand of death entered the family circle, and again
a happy home was changed into a house of mourning, by the death of
All communications should be addressed to the editor, CHABLKS AVKRY WELLES. 85
Major Candidus, his father, on the very day before the Exhibition opened its
Broadway, N. Y. City.
Checks and Post-Offlce Orders should be made payable to CHARLES AVKRY WELLES, Pro doors. In comforting his mother his own mind was withdrawn from his first
prietor.
sorrow, and as he was now resolved to live for his art alone, he determined
We are not responsible for the return of rejected manuscript.
Correspondence must always be accompanied by the name and address of the sender, no to devote the next two years of retirement to the study of the Italian lan-
necessarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
guage and method of vocalization.
Trade reports, items and communications, relating to the music trade, are solicited from
In 1876 he arrived in Milan, placed himself under the instruction of
all parts of the world.
Signor Ronchetti, the pupil, companion and friend of the great tenor,
Rubini, and the best teacher in Italy. Under such a master and with the
NEW YORK, JULY 5, 1881.
knowledge he already possessed, he would have naturally made rapid pro-
gress, but his incessant study, to the exclusion of any pleasure or recreation,
ADVERTISING KATES.
caused Ronchetti to remonstrate with him about his restless^ energy. His
One I n c h (Two columns to the page.)
Per quarter, $20.OC progress, rapid as it was, never seemed to satisfy him, and even if a particularly
difficult fioriture satisfied his teacher, he always wished to do it better.
ADVERTISING CARDS,
I I n c h (Three columns to the page)
Per quarter, $14.0 This sometimes provoked Ronchetti, and upon one occasion he exclaimed
with warmth, as he turned to leave the room :
t Poet-paid one year, invariably in advance,
$3
"Lie vol can tare come un Dio; quella non e possibile " (" you want to
SUBSCRIPTION :
(Single copies
1C sing like a God, but that's impossible.") He could not help laughing, how-
OIRGh
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).