A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bendler, Salomon

by Julian Marshall

BENDLER, or BENDELER, Salomon, was born at Quedlimburg, 1683. His father gave him his first instruction in music. Gifted with artistic feeling and a magnificent bass voice, young Bendler was soon a most remarkable singer. In 1712 he came to London, and sang the part of the King in 'Ambleto' by Gasparini, and of Argante in Handel's 'Rinaldo.' However, he preferred an engagement at the opera in Hamburg, where he obtained a most brilliant success, as also at Leipzig and Brunswick. 'During a visit at Dantzig, he played the organ in the principal church; and, after a short prelude, gave forth the full force of his stupendous voice in a solo. A sudden noise in the church interrupted both the singer and the service: the wife of one of the chief magistrates, terrified by the tremendous tones, was safely delivered of a son. Her husband, a martyr to the gout, was no sooner informed of the event, than he found himself instantly cured. Hearing the name of the artist to whom he owed this double debt and happiness, he invited Bendler to meet a distinguished company at the christening feast, when he placed on his plate a sum of 300 ducats, thanking him at the same time for the service he had rendered him, both as physician and accoucheur.' This extraordinary singer died in 1724.

[ J. M. ]