In memoriam: Hannah Davidson

Hannah R. Davidson

January 10, 1958 – May 31, 2022

Hannah Davidson of Belmont Massachusetts, passed comfortably, at home, on May 31, 2022 after a long hard battle against breast cancer. Her parents Bruce C. Davidson and Martha W. Davidson of Belmont, Massachusetts preceded her in death.  She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Davidson (Thomas Orent) and niece Alexandra Orent of Sherborn, Massachusetts and her uncle Peter Whiting (Jane deceased) of Framingham and cousins Sarah Whiting of Norfolk, Virginia and William Whiting of Marlborough, Massachusetts.

Hannah graduated from Belmont High School in 1975 and attended Harvard College. After an academic break she graduated with a BA from Harvard Extension School soon followed by an MA from Longy School of Music in 2016.

A lifelong student and musician dedicated to continuing Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music, Hannah excelled at the viola da gamba and harpsichord among other instruments. She studied the instruments, and the music, but also made an effort to understand the context for their use, so that she could create more authentic performances. She played with many different consorts in the area and gave freely of her time and energy to support both the Viola da Gamba Society – New England (VdGSA-NE) and the national Viola da Gamba Society (VdGSA).

Guided by artistic muses, Hannah wrote poetry and loved sketching and painting. She also dedicated hours to a large kitchen and vegetable garden and then made sure to use the summer bounty in delicious meals and preserve it for use in the cold winter months. She had boundless energy and devotion for the people in her life.