Torches and passings

[Richard Moody]

It is a shock to hear of Sheldon Smith passing from us. 

I had heard much more about him, than I knew him personally. I  met him only twice,
both times at his shop in Berkeley Ca.  I can't remember why I was there the first
time execpt that I think I flat out invited myself over. He had a top  notch
reputation in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I was in my fifth or sixth year and the 
the slightest pretext to phone him came up, and sure enough, I was welcome to stop
by.  A really nice person, seemed only 10 years older than me.  Struck me
as the saying goes, "calm, cool, and collected." 

	The second time was  rather serious.  I broke a bass string on a C7 that was to be
used for a show that evening.  Fortunatly Sheldon happened to be in his shop on a
Saturday afternoon. I needed to tie the string, (F1) but I didn't have the right
size wire for the leader, and ... I had forgotten how to tie. He had the right size
and could show me the knot.  What a relief.  When I got there I was still distraught
over breaking the string in the first place. He was very consoling. "You didn't
break the string, " he said, "It broke when you let it down" (I was letting it down
so I could twist it because it was buzzing.) Even when I confessed I thought I let
it down too fast he was adamant it was ready to break no matter what. That certainly
eased my anxiety. He tutored me for a half hour practicing tying piano wire.  He
even gave me a pre-formed loop which worked perfectly. I owed him big time so I
offered to do something like clean up the shop or chip a couple of pianos.  He said
with a smile, "Thanks I might call you in a couple of weeks."  
	Sure enough about a week later he called and asked if I wanted to tune at
Zellerbach, UC Berkeley's concert hall.  "Bill them your fee and they will pay you".
Afterwards when the stage manager asked me if I was available because "Sheldon is so
hard to get" I got worried I might have "cut  his fee", and  also Sheldon had the UC
Berkeley contract. So next day I phoned him and he said to take the calls if I
wanted, they were  extra to the contract, and he was happy to spread it around.  

	As one technician I am thankful.  From what I have heard there are many many
others, 
	and thus our memories are with those who have gone before us.....

Richard Moody 


> 
> Last Friday, Sheldon Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly at his
> Berkeley, CA, home.
> 
> For those who may not have known of him, Sheldon was, for over
> 25 years, the concert technician for the San Francisco Symphony,
> and was still active at Herz and Zellerbach Halls at CAL, as well
> as maintaining a very active rebuilding business at the time of
> his death.  His work may be heard on virtually any recording made
> by the SFO between 1970 and 1995.
> 
> His candle burned, perhaps, too brightly; and he constantly fought
> with the inner demons which have driven so many into divorce or,
> out of the profession.  A brilliant technician, he was also a gifted
> teacher, whose classes were always jammed to overflowing and well
> received.  Even when one disagreed with his conclusions, it was 
> clear that great energy and intelligence had gone into arriving at
> them, and that they were not dogmatically cast in concrete.
> 
> The shops, first in SF and then in Berkeley, have long been centers
> of very high quality, innovative work.  He was capable of craftsmanship
> second to none.  Constantly experimenting, he was designing and making
> his own soundboards (including some highly successful laminated ones),
> as well as things like crossband laminated ribs long before most others
> on the West Coast were even doing any successful shimming.
> 
> For some, Sheldon's passing is a footnote.  For some others, it is
> the shattering loss of one of the few true remaining original
> geniuses of the profession.  (Think of Leonard Jared, or Chas. Frederick
> Stein, and a handful of others.)
> 
> A Wake, which is, after all, the only truly appropriate way to celebrate
> Sheldon, is planned for later in August.
> 
> Best to all.
> 
> Horace
> 
>