The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-03-05
Captures
Audience By
Her Artistry
Mildred Dilling, Harpist
of Worldwide RenoWn,
Charms Music Lovers
GENEROUS In RESPONSE
TO NUMEROUS ENCORES


An audience who sat spellbound
for two and half hours Monday
night in the Libby high school audi
torium while Mildred Dilling, gol-
den-haired statuesque CONCERT ar
fist of New York city, played %
numbers on her handsome $500
harp, roundly applauded each num-
Der and enthusiastically called for
seven encores The audience was
charmed by Miss billings striking
appearance. vivid personality and
wit and was completely enraptured
by the curious sweetness and in
credible beauty of the music that
flowed from the harp strings under
the touch of her skilled fingers
She's the best artist we've ever
had here" said Walter Neils voic-
ing the general concensus of opln-
ion of the big group of enthusiasts
who gathered around the stage at
the close of the concert to examine
the harp and question the artist who
was most generous in her explana-
tons and response.
A crowd of school-age youngsters
mounted the stage to express their
appreciation in person and to get
their programs autographed.
In a trailing gown of filmy white
with white sequin adorned bodice,
sweeping white chiffon scarf and
white slippers with crystal designs,
Miss billing, seated at her large,
golden framed harp, made a thor
oughly enchanting picture.
Especially popular with the au-
dience in the first group of num-
bers was "Preambule' (Partita VI
by Bach, ard Miss Dilling has ex-
planned that the music of Bach is
nearer the original when played on
the harp than it ever can be on the
piano"
At the close of the first COUP
of numbers, Miss Dilling presented
a brief history of the harp, point
ing out that all people of the world
have invented a harp as their first
stringed instrument and that prim-
tive man perhaps first got the idea
of making harp when ne DIS
covered the "twang" made by has
hunters bow. From her private col
lection Of SO harps, Miss Dilling dis
]. PLAYED a Burmese bow harp, likely
She said, the kind David used when
he played for King Saul, a minstrel
harp. dated by experts as belonging
to the 18th to 10th century, anc
COPY of an old Irish harp or
which he played Soldiers Joy.
Encore numbers played by Mis-:
billing were Dance Orientale' BY
Harriet Cady: Believe Me if AL
Those Endearing Young Charms,
by Thomas Moore, Song OF tht
Volga Boatman," "Fireflies, "Iht
Beautiful Blue Danube" Strauss
THE Music Box an old fashioned
tune; and a mazurka by Schuacker
Miss billings playing Of her owl
arrangement of 1.-THE Beautiful Blue
Danube" resulted in torrent Q
heavy applause to call her bacl
for two additional encores. He
entire program was delightful,
varied one.
While in Libby, Miss Dilling wa
guest at the local theatre witt
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Neils and Mis-
Inez Ratekin, was entertained a
luncheon Monday noon, with Mis-
haIek1I1, DIT lllE iiOiiiN VI i'ii. 49,
Mrs. Neils and on Monday evenln
was special guest at an informa
gathering at the home Of Mr.. an
Mrs. Neils following the concer'
Mr.. and Mrs. George Neils and Mis-
Ratekin were present for this in
formal gathering Tuesday morn
ing, following a breakfast at
downtown cafe with Mrs. Neils, Mis-
Ratekin and a Western News re
porter, Miss billing, who was host
ess at the breakfast, made tou
through the j. Neils Lumber c.
mill and grounds. Miss Dilling, Q
coast to coast tour, left Tuesda
noon on the Empire Builder and
to make her next appearance
Miles City.
Miss Dilling appeared here undo
the Community Concert Associs
ton.