COMMANDER CHARLES BRENDLER
United States Navy Band
Fifteen-year-old Charles Brendler, hugging his precious clarinet under his arm, without a word to his father, mother, or anyone, left home to join the United States Navy. He loved music more than anything in the world and was determined to give his whole time to it. Like many boys of his age, Charles had become fascinated by the Navy advertisements. He thought if he belonged to a band on a United States ship he would have nothing to do but practice and play.
Learning that the U.S.S. Florida was anchored at the dock in New York, he made his way to find her. Carefully he watched his chance and climbed aboard, unseen by anyone. Luckily Charles fell into friendly hands. He was permitted to tell his story and to prove his unusual talent as a clarinet player. As a result Charles Brendler won a berth on the U.S.S. Florida September 26, 1913. He was rated as a “landsman for musician.” When his parents found out where he was and what he was doing, they willingly consented to his plans.
Charles, the son of Ivan and Mary Brendler, was born in New York City in 1898, on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12. He was a happy, busy little boy whose greatest pleasure seemed to be in listening to the music of a band. There were plenty of bands for him to hear on the streets and in the parks of that great city, but soon Charles began to want to make his own music. The Brendlers realized that a small boy who had such an early love for music was unusual. They bought him a clarinet, and in a short time the ten-year-old boy was playing in the band in his grade school in Brooklyn.
At thirteen Charles was a cadet in John Wanamaker’s department store, playing in the boys’ band of that establishment. Wanamaker’s then had a school for the cadets and they also hired a capable director for the band.
The bandleader at this time was Frederick D. Woods, an Englishman who had come to America with a musical comedy company from London. Woods liked this new country so well that he made his home in New York and became conductor of the Wanamaker Band.
At the very first rehearsal Woods discovered Charles’s talent. In a cadenza the tones of one clarinet rang clear and true while the other players stumbled.
“Repeat that cadenza, please,” said Woods, looking at Charles. Again he played the passage perfectly.
“You are Charles Brendler?” asked Woods.