thumb|Harry Kandel, 1922 passport photo

Harry Kandel (c. 1885–1943) was an American clarinetist and klezmer bandleader of the early twentieth century. His recording career with the Victor Recording Company lasted from 1916 to 1927, during which he released dozens of Jewish music records.

Biography

Early life

Harry was born Chaim Kandel () sometime around 1885; on some immigration documents he gave his birthdate as September 21, 1883 In a number of census and immigration documents Kandel listed his birthplace as Russia or more specifically Kovel, Volyn Oblast (now located in Ukraine). His father was named Mordko Kandel. He studied clarinet at the Odessa Conservatory and briefly served in a Russian army band before emigrating to New York City in October 1904. He seems to have lived in Philadelphia as early as 1904, although he also apparently lived and worked in New York City at other times. At some point in the 1910s he became bandleader at the Arch Street Theatre, a vaudeville and Yiddish Theatre venue, where he continued to work at least until 1918. He also became assistant band director in and clarinetist/saxophonist in John Philips Sousa's Pennsylvania State Militia Band. According to Philadelphia klezmer researcher Hankus Netsky, his recordings during this era were full of melodies and musicians from that city's klezmer music milieu, including drummer and xylophonist Jacob Hoffman, and was quite distinct from the recordings of the better-known New York bandleaders. and by the late '30s was running a store that sold Westinghouse refrigerators. That program, which aired on WDAS, presented singers such as Chaim Towber and Moishe Oysher to the city. She continued to live in Philadelphia after Harry's death and died herself in 1952. Their children were Reba (born 1911), Samuel (born 1913), and Doris (born 1921), all born in Philadelphia. and other manuscripts which he had submitted for copyright ended up in the Library of Congress. During the Klezmer Revival of the 1970s and 1980s, there was renewed interest in 78 rpm recordings of klezmer music from the 1910s and 1920s, and some of Kandel's old recordings were reinterpreted or reissued. Some of the reissue albums they appeared on include Jakie jazz 'em up: old-time klezmer music, 1912-1926. (Global Village, 1993), Klezmer pioneers : European and American recordings, 1905-1952. (Rounder Records, 1993), and Klezmer music: early Yiddish instrumental music, 1908-1927. (Arhoolie Records, 1997). In addition, Global Village put out two CDs entirely of reissued Kandel tracks: Russian sher: master of klezmer music (1993) and Master of klezmer music. Volume 2, Der gassen nigun (1997). In 2010 the Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University also reissued a number of his tracks in CD form: The Kandel Orchestra. Volume 1: 1917-1918. and The Kandel Orchestra. Volume 2: 1921..

References

  • Harry Kandel manuscripts and public domain records in the Library of Congress
  • Kandel's Orchestra recordings in the Florida Atlantic University Judaica collection
  • Harry Kandel listing in the Discography of American Historical Recordings
  • Harry Kandel (1885-1943): un klezmer à Philadelphie (in French) - biographical blog post