Charles Tanguy

Tanguy, Charles

Charles Tanguy. French hornist, teacher, composer, b France ca 1845, d ?; premier prix french horn (Académie de Valenciennes and Paris Cons). At first a member of the Pasdeloup and Théâtre lyrique orchestras in Paris, he became sergeant-bugler and then bandmaster of a regiment during the Franco-Prussian War. He later played in orchestras in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Switzerland as well as at the Théâtre-Italien in Paris. He taught brass instruments at the Cons de Valenciennes and was director of the Société chorale de St-Quentin, France, prior to his appointment to teach at the Bordeaux Cons. He was a conductor of choral and instrumental societies in France and continued to work as an instrumentalist, visiting New Orleans as principal french horn with the Opéra francais. He was made an officer of the Académie by the French government in 1907, the year he settled in Montreal as a teacher of brass instruments, voice, violin, and piano. J.-J. Gagnier and Guillaume Gagnier were among his pupils.

Tanguy composed numerous sentimental ballads, piano pieces, and patriotic songs which were published in LePasse-Temps. One of these songs, 'Canadien toujours!' with lyrics by Gaston Leury (Le Passe-Temps no. 316 in 1907, and no. 909 in 1947) enjoyed a certain popularity, as did 'Patrie,' to a poem by Albert Ferland (Yon 1909).