Comments on: Gerhard Samuel – A Small Remembrance

By: Robert L. Huffman

Robert L. Huffman — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:09:03 +0000

Living in Berkeley in the early 1960′s I first knew Gary through his brilliant and inovative programming with the Oakland Symphony. A frequent winner on TeleMusic Quiz, enabled me to take in several of his concerts, notably a “Missa Solemnis” and an hair raising Ives Fourth Symphony, with the chorus seated Oxford style throughout the audience. In 1967, at the Cabrillo Festival and through an invitation from visiting artist Noel Lee, a friend of Gary’s whom I’d established contact with, I was honored to finally meet him, and was a guest for that week at his rented beach house in a gated area in Aptos. It was a magic time, meeting Lou Harrison at his home above the sea, taking in the festival, and spending many nights hearing about the good old days with Nadia over marvelous meals, listening to Lou’s Second Symphony on a tape made with the Oaklnad Symphony. Our friendship was sealed one afternoon as we bobbed in the shallow surf one afternoon. The sky became black with cormorants as they dived next to us, seeking grunion, seeking the beach at high tide. We had survived an attack right out of Hitchcock! Gary was too funny for words, and over the following years, we visited whenever we could; me meeting his Mother in Seattle, and he visiting me to compose at my parents beach cabin in Yachats, where I was organizing a Summer Music Festival.
I shall miss this man and kind soul. I have so many memories and would love to share them, should someone put together a book in his honor.
Robert Huffman

By: Eero Richmond

Eero Richmond — Sun, 31 May 2009 00:08:05 +0000

I was honored to know Gerhard for about 40 years. One year he showed up at my apartment here in Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve with two of his students. It was such a special gettogether. I loved Gerhard for his tremendous interest in everything and everyone, not just music — though of course music dominated his life. My sympathies to you, Achim. RIP dear Gerhard.

By: Michael McDonagh

Michael McDonagh — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:42:27 +0000

Thanks for comment. Gerhard was a caring, concerned person, as well as a complete musician / artist with a phenomenal ear. He told me how he was once with Boulanger who noticed a carillon playing, and stopped, like Alex North, who, Tony Franciosa, told me, would always notice music wherever he was, and say “Listen”. Artists with generous hearts like Gerhard are always to be cherished

By: Wes F. in Cincinnati

Wes F. in Cincinnati — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:21:04 +0000

I was doing a masters in composition at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music in the mid-1990s. Maestro Samuel was the music director and conductor of the CCM Philharmonia, and had turned it into a professional-grade ensemble.

He always made it a point to do composer readings, and was generous with suggestions when the Philharmonia read my Adagio for euphonium and orchestra.

He was truly a musician and composer of the highest caliber.

RIP