The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2010-06-24 06:38
Does anyone have any biographical info about this clarinetist? I studied with him when I was a youngster but lost touch in the late 60s. I remember him as a very fine human being and always way too easy on me.
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2010-06-24 21:43
Thanks but I did read those. Was hoping for DOB, DOD, who his teachers were, where he went to school, where he was born, any anecdotes from someone who knew or studied with him, etc.
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Author: Gutprof
Date: 2012-04-14 12:30
I studied with Livingston in the late 70s and early 80s while I was in high school in Louisville (and a bit beyond). He was a big influence both personally and musically -- and I still have his copy of the Debussy. What I remember most was his working with me on musicality, shaping phrases, and singing through the instrument. He used to talk about achieving a hollow tone, or spin some other metaphor, and then admit that language fails when we try to talk about the sound of music.
He drove a BMW 320i and I thought it was the coolest car on earth (I was a weird kid) and when I turned 16 he gave me a thrill by letting me drive it around on the Shelby campus at U of L.
He had a bad bicycle accident at some point after I left for college. I was never clear on the details but I got the sense that it ended his playing career. I came back one summer and pressed him for a lesson. I couldn't figure out why he resisted seeing me so much, but when I insisted on seeing him he invited me to his home. He was unduly critical and seemed sad -- a different person than the one I had known -- and I definitely had the impression that he was done teaching lessons. That was the last I saw him. Maybe others can clarify this part of the story.
But I was back in Louisville a few weeks ago to visit my mother and was at the great Miles Ahead music store there trying out a clarinet -- the owner knew Jim well and still has his custom made double clarinet stand. Just seeing it brought back a lot of fond memories.
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