Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Carrodus, John Tiplady
CARRODUS, JOHN TIPLADY (1836–1895), violinist, son of Tom Carrodus, barber and music-seller, was born at Braithwaite, near Keighley, Yorkshire, on 20 Jan. 1836. He had his first lessons on the violin from his father, and gave a concert at Keighley in 1845. Subsequently he studied under Molique in London and in Stuttgart, and made a brilliant debut at the Hanover Square Rooms on 1 June 1849. He joined the orchestra of the Royal Italian Opera in 1855, and, when Costa and Sainton resigned in 1869, he was appointed leader, a post which he retained for twenty years. Ultimately he became principal violinist in the Philharmonic and several other leading orchestras; and he was leader at the Leeds festival from 1880 to 1892. As a quartet player he appeared first at Molique's chamber concerts in 1850, and as a soloist at the London Musical Society in 1863. In the latter capacity he was specially well known, being engaged at the Crystal Palace and the leading metropolitan and provincial concerts. In 1876 he was appointed professor of the violin at the National Training School for Music, and in 1881 he began giving violin recitals, which practically ended with a tour in South Africa (1890–1). For some time he was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and at Trinity College, London, In February 1895 the freedom of Keighley was presented to him in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of his first public appearance there. He was a splendid teacher, and in that capacity largely influenced the younger generation of violinists. His solo-playing was much admired on account of his fine tone and reliable technique. Correctness and neatness rather than warmth and passion were the distinguishing features of his style, and his 'school' was generally accepted as a modification of that of Spohr. His published compositions include a romance (London, 1881, fol.) and several fantasias; and he edited for Pitman's 'Sixpenny Musical Library' a collection of celebrated violin duets in eight books (London, 1880, 4to) and some studies. He wrote a good deal on his art in the musical and other journals. His 'Chats to Violin Students,' originally published in 'The Strad,' were subsequently issued in book form (London, 1895). He died suddenly in London, from rupture of the oesophagus, on 13 July 1895. He was twice married, and left five sons in the profession.
[British Museum Music Catalogue; Grove's Dict. of Music; Brown and Stratton's Brit. Musical Biog.; Scottish Musical Monthly. October 1894, August 1895; Musical Times, August 1895; information from family.]