 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Levee
Date: 2012-05-22 20:34
My name is David Levee and Lorin Levee was my father. Currently, I am in the process of trying to compile memories for my two daughters Maya and Gwen. I have located many pictures, newspaper clippings, and even the receipt from my father's first clarinet purchased in 1953. Also, while cleaning out my father's belongings, I came across his early performances starting at age 8, including the Nielsen he performed at Interlochen in 1963.
1. Age 8 (public debut) Cavalini: La Sonnombula
2. Age 9 (Lyon and Healey competition) - Verdi: Rigoletto Fantasy
3. Age 9 - Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee
4. Age 10 - Weber: Concertino
5. Age 12 - Mozart: Clarinet Concerto
6. Age 13 (Interlochen Music Camp) - Nielsen: Clarinet Concerto
I also have a large number of performances that took place at DePaul in the early to mid 1970s. I have not had a chance to go through those yet.
My goal this summer is to post them on youtube along with a video of my father playing a duet (Hava Nagila) with my then 7 year old.
What I am still looking for... If anyone has any memories that they would like to share, please do so. You can email me directly or feel free to post on this bulletin board. Both of my daughters are "techie" so I think they would enjoy doing searches of their grandfather and reading stories of Chicago, Interlochen, LA Phil., etc.
Thank you all for the kind words of my father and helping to keep his memory alive.
David
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-05-22 22:10
David -
I was at Interlochen in the summer of 1962, which I think was Lorin Levee's first year there (though it could have been 1961). There was a buzz among the clarinetists about a very young player (in the elementary school Junior Division) who was a major talent -- the Han Kim of that period.
I heard him in a recital. He came out, only a little taller than his clarinet, and wowed everyone with a very strong performance of the first movement from Spohr's Concerto # 1. It was obvious that he would grow up to play in a major symphony.
Everyone was shocked when he died so young. He will be greatly missed.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2012-05-23 01:48
I just mentioned here a couple of days ago that you had been looking for recordings for YouTube. Glad you located them!
I met Lorin when the Philharmonic came to Philadelphia 2 years ago. This past summer, at Clarinet Fest/Michele Zukovsky's party, we talked for a while - he clued me onto Brent's Deli in Northridge, thus keeping me from starving
I think of him every time I have an Egg Cream.
Wonderful player!!
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2012-05-23 01:50)
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Author: David Levee
Date: 2012-05-23 14:16
Brent's Deli is the best. My dad and I spent many Saturday's there. I liked the place a lot more when I was younger and did not have to pay the bill! When we visit LA and go there, my daughters have no mercy on me! I have always been more of a phosphate guy myself!
At the funeral, the clarinet convention was brought up and stories shared by Dave Tuttle and Glenn Estrin. After all the years my father and Stanley Drucker met and went to Brent's! At the funeral Dave said it was like "watching Billy the Kid meet Jesse James."
Glenn whose brother is Mitchell Estrin (clarinet professor at University of Florida) was my father's student when my dad did his student teaching at Lane Tech High School. Glenn was also at the Brent's meeting and attended the convention with him. He said dad looked really bad, wasn't his normal wise-ass self. But, when he sampled clarinets at the convention it "was like the old Lorin."
For as sick as he was, it is pretty amazing that he was still able to play.
All these old stories are really appreciated. At the end of the day, people saw my father in a special light. To me, he was just my dad who I collected baseball cards with I was young, and smoked cigars with when I was older.
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Author: Chetclarinet
Date: 2012-05-23 17:53
I had the distinct privilege of being present at Lorin's amazing performance of the Weber Concertino in 1962 at Interlochen. His performance at age 11 or so was a major inspiration to me personally. I figured that age 16, I had better get it happening or forget playing the clarinet in a serious manner! I have been playing the clarinet professionally for the past 50 years with no regrets. I am still humbled by his musicianship and work ethic displayed at such a young age! He will certainly be missed!
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