|
19 May 03 - 01:06 PM (#955540) Subject: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST >E-mail From Grace Griffith: < Freyda Epstein was killed Saturday. Apparently she was driving to Charlottesville when a car, driven by someone eluding the police, crossed the midline and struck her car head on, killing both her and the fleeing driver. A memorial service will apparently be held in Charlottesville later this week. Freyda is remembered by many for her rich and amazingly versatile voice, expressive singing, and wonderful fiddling. She was a teacher of the Alexander Method. She was also a person who enriched the lives of those lucky enough to call her friend with her wisdom and humor. Since her days with Trapezoid she had pursued a number of musical directions and studied speech pathology. She had moved to the San Francisco Bay area for some years.>> |
|
19 May 03 - 02:14 PM (#955581) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) This is a blow to the heart- a sad happening indeed, and the loss to the world of a lovely singer and person. Jean |
|
19 May 03 - 03:37 PM (#955634) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Liz the Squeak What is it at the moment... there are more OBIT threads than Music threads at the moment.... However this is one person I'd heard of..... another hole in the universe. There is nothing anyone can really say.... LTS |
|
19 May 03 - 10:23 PM (#955861) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Art Thieme This is grievous news indeed. She was a fine talent and a good person. I knew her from Trapezoid days in Winfield, Kansas-------and from time spent on the staff at Augusta in W. Virginia. I'm so sorry. Art Thieme |
|
19 May 03 - 10:33 PM (#955866) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: CarolC I'm very sorry to hear about this. I used to really enjoy her singing and fiddling when she was with Trapezoid. I only met her once, but I found her to be a very gracious person. |
|
19 May 03 - 11:08 PM (#955875) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Kudzuman A great grace has passed from the universe. We will miss her! Kudzuman |
|
20 May 03 - 11:54 AM (#956225) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,ARNIE I |
|
20 May 03 - 12:11 PM (#956238) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,Arnie I was at an annual music gathering near Charlottesville VA when we all received the sad news on Saturday. Freyda was a big musical influence in their community, and had many close friends that she was coming to spend the weekend with at this very same event. A Sunday morning sing was dedicated to her memory with some of her closest musical friends - Laura Light, Jim Morrison, Pete and Ellen Vigour, Tina Liza Jones, and others. Here we were at our party to get together and enjoy lifes pleasures of being with friends and playing music, and also knowing that a life was missing from us who should have been there sharing it with us - a tug of war between plesure and pain. She will be missed by many. |
|
20 May 03 - 12:53 PM (#956270) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,Joshua Lakin For all those interested, there is going to be a celebration of her life (aka memorial service) this Wednesday at the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church on Rugby Road in Charlottesville, VA. It is going to be a lovely service, and a great way to remember all the joy Fredya brought into the world. Josh - Freyda's nephew |
|
20 May 03 - 06:05 PM (#956495) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Charlie Baum Details from a relatively local newspaper (in Fredericksburg, VA) present a particularly shocking story of a man in rage (and possibly drunk?) choosing an absolute stranger's car as an object to crash into in a suicide attempt--and that car, unfortunately, was being driven by Freyda Epstein. My sympathy to survivors and friends, and my anger and rage to a dead man who can no longer receive them. --Charlie |
|
21 May 03 - 10:34 AM (#956938) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,Susan Hills I remember Freyda as a tender, sensitive teacher who connecting with each student with intuition, concentration, and care. The Alexander technique has made a lasting change in my singing and probably my health, and each time I remember these adjustments I remember her expert hands and wise direction. Her voice in the world, as human and singer, was wonderful. I always meant to send her an e-mail and catch up again - now I can only hold and honor the memory and the tangible gifts - the teaching, the CDs, the cassettes with directions for the Alexander Technique. I treasure them - ! My deep sympathy to relatives and all who were especially close to her. |
|
21 May 03 - 02:45 PM (#957108) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,Bill Lisk I remember her from Stage 3 at Winfield, she was a bright shining star. This is so sad. Bill Lisk |
|
21 May 03 - 08:30 PM (#957349) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Frankham What a loss! A great talented woman. I admired her work so much.... A beautiful and versatile musician..Trapeziod and wasn't she in Eclectricity? (A great group! Correct me here please if I've got that wrong.) So awful and sad! A great loss to the world of folk music. Frank Hamilton |
|
22 May 03 - 12:59 AM (#957437) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Desert Dancer From Charlottesville's The Daily Progress, May 21, 2003 Link Renowned folk singer Epstein remembered for talent, wit By Reed Williams / Daily Progress staff writer May 19, 2003 Freyda Epstein, a nationally known folk musician and former resident of Charlottesville, died over the weekend in an auto accident. She was 46. Friends and family remembered Epstein on Monday for her rich alto singing voice, her success as a music instructor and her sense of humor. "Freyda made an enormous contribution to our community and to communities across the country," said Laura Light, a fellow musician and longtime friend. "She's one of those musicians who makes other people sound really good." Before moving to Charlottesville, Epstein was a member of Trapezoid, a group based in Elkins, W.Va. She played violin and sang in the band from 1980 to 1988. "During that time, we did probably over 1,000 concerts and made three albums together," said Paul Riesler, leader of the group. "She was a remarkable singer." In the '90s, while living in Charlottesville, Epstein played with Freyda & Acoustic AttaTude, which won an award for producing the second-best folk recording of the year. The award was given by the Independent Record Manufacturers and Distributors. Light, who met Epstein at a music festival in Elkins three decades ago, said Epstein moved to California a few years ago and was a lead choral director for the World Harmony Chorus. Epstein also taught singing, violin and Alexander Technique, a method of body movement musicians use. She was driving from Washington Dulles International Airport to Charlottesville when she was killed in a car accident, Light said. Light said she and Epstein visited musicians in South Africa in December as part of a cultural exchange program, and the two friends planned to play together on tour this summer. "We?re all just hurting so bad," Light said. She said she will remember Epstein's unmistakable voice and her "really wacky" sense of humor. Epstein grew up in a musical family in the Boston area. Her sister, Deborah Lakin, said their mother used to compose music on her piano at home. Lakin praised her sister's musical talent, noting that Epstein played with some of the nation's leading folk musicians over the years, including Doc Watson and Patty Larkin. "She was somebody who loved life, who absolutely loved her music ? a warm, loving, caring person," Lakin said. "People warmed up to her and would be her friend." A memorial service for Epstein will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church on Rugby Road. |
|
22 May 03 - 02:43 PM (#957802) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,New York City wasn't she in Eclectricity? (A great group! Correct me here please if I've got that wrong.) No, the fiddler in Exlectricity was Miriam Sturm. |
|
22 May 03 - 04:26 PM (#957856) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: Frankham New York Guest, thanks. I didn't think I had that right. Frank Hamilton |
|
24 May 03 - 08:56 PM (#958867) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: McMusic I had the good fortune to take a workshop with Freyda during Vocal and Old Time Week at Elkins, West Virgnia a few years back. She was a wonderful teacher, open and encouraging, as well as a marvelous musician and an extraordinary singer. I didn't get to know her very well, but I found her one of the most fascinating people I've ever been around. RIP. You will be missed very badly. We're losing them too fast. |
|
24 May 03 - 09:10 PM (#958872) Subject: RE: Obit: Freyda Epstein From: GUEST,Mary I will miss her very much. She really touched my life with her "Globalullabies" album. I spent many wonderful hours with my babies in a rocking chair with her beautiful music playing. It sure made those hours even sweeter. I think it gave my children an early start in appreciating beautiful music. She is one person that really did make a difference. She touched so many people with her art. So sad. |