[CAUT] Fw: Margaret Hood: Nov 18, 1937-June 7, 2008

[Jim Busby]

Oh No! She was truly one on the nicest, finest ladies I've ever met. I had two opportunities to spend some time with her years ago. Never did I hear her say an unkind word towards anyone. Her knowledge and experience were vast and she was always willing to share this and help anyone who asked. Her books on harpsichord and fortepiano are so easy to understand and follow. "With her passing the world of music has suffered a loss of immense proportions". Amen to that, and more. I will miss her.

Jim Busby

________________________________
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Allen Wright
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 4:31 PM
To: Ed Sutton; College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Fw: Margaret Hood: Nov 18, 1937-June 7, 2008

Ed,

This is sad indeed.

Margaret was always extremely kind and generous to me in sharing her knowledge via e-mails and phone calls when I was learning to take care of the fortepiano collection at Oberlin. (Her book on fortepiano repair and regulation is highly recommended, btw). Reading her obituary, it's clear that she was a multi-faceted lady; I'm sorry that I didn't have the chance to meet her in person, or learn about her other talents and interests.

Allen Wright


On Jun 12, 2008, at 11:05 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:


More sad news. ES

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "C. E Hood" <hood at UWPLATT.EDU<mailto:hood at UWPLATT.EDU>>
To: HPSCHD-L at listserv.albany.edu<mailto:HPSCHD-L at listserv.albany.edu>
Subject: Margaret Hood: Nov 18, 1937-June 7, 2008
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:35:33 +0000
List Members,
  It is my unwelcome task to pass on the sad news that Margaret has died. An
obituary appears below.
  Ellsworth

MARGARET F. HOOD : Nov 19, 1937-June 7, 2008


-MARGARET F. HOOD, fortepiano and harpsichord designer and maker, died June 7,
2008. Margaret was born Nov. 19, 1937 in New York City and grew up in Greenwich,
Connecticut.  She graduated from The Greenwich Academy in 1954 and continued her
education at Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she
pursued her interests in philosophy, religion and art.  Upon graduation from Mt.
Holyoke in 1958, Margaret continued the pursuit of her intellectual and academic
interests at the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) in Berkeley, California. Along
with her academic work, Margaret did calligraphic and artifact restoration work
for the Bade Archaeological Museum at PSR. At graduation in 1961, she was
awarded a Danforth Fellowship at Duke University for the following year.
    Margaret's youthful love of horses remained with her throughout her life.
She developed her skills not only in riding but in training in the English
traditions of jumping, cross country and dressage. Boxes of ribbons attest to
the level of her success in horsemanship.
    Margaret came from a family of painters and she continued the tradition with
an extensive repertoire of styles and techniques.  She added to that tradition
by applying her artistic talents and skills to the painting of
historically-appropriate paintings and decorations on the lids and soundboards
of harpsichords.
    In the 1970s, Margaret began a career as a builder of historically-correct
reproductions of early keyboard instruments: harpsichords, clavichords and
fortepianos. She was for a time an agent for Zuckerman Harpsichords and then,
after extensive research in Europe and the US, she founded her own company,
Margaret Hood Fortepianos [http://fortepianos.pair.com]. She proceeded to build
instruments of her own design, based on her research and analysis of surviving
original instruments and the written records from the time in which the
instruments were built. Her instruments and her scholarship have earned her a
national and international reputation as a builder of exceptionally fine
instruments, particularly reproductions of the pianos of Nannette Streicher,
whose instruments were highly praised by Beethoven and were his preferred choice
to play in performance. Margaret also earned national and international
recognition among Beethoven scholars and early music performers for h!
 er research and publications with regard to Beethoven and the instruments of
his time.  In addition, Margaret wrote and published two technical manuals, one
on repair and maintenance of harpsichords, and one on repair and maintenance of
fortepianos.
    In addition to her professional interests, Margaret enjoyed varied
activities, such as camping and canoeing with her family, gardening, abundant
reading, debating politics, and socializing with the large circle of friends
drawn to her by her genuineness as a person, her energy, intelligence, quick
wit, and broad interests.
    Margaret was united in marriage with C. Ellsworth Hood in 1961.  She is
survived by her husband, Ellsworth, her daughter, Vivian Andrea, and her son,
Thomas William. With her passing the world of music has suffered a loss of
immense proportions and her family a loss greater still.
    A private memorial celebration of Margaret and her life will be held by the
family at a later date.



Allen Wright
London, UK

http://www.broadjam.com/akwright





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