If you enjoy vintage harp music - check out the SCORE to Orson Welles' "Return To Glennascaul". I didn't upload it, because it was already up (in sections). And it has recently been uploaded again - this time, in one piece - with an introduction by Peter Bogdanovitch. Again, I had nothing to do with the upload - I simply recommend it to lovers of harp music, as it is quite beautiful.
I took a master class from Mrs. Dilling at U of O in 1976 or so. She was eighty at the time and still full of fire. She carried herself beautifully erect with a very proud posture -- more like an aged dancer -- and still playing beautifully at that time. She inspired everyone around her to work harder, practice more, take the harp more seriously than ever -- but still have fun. I can only imagine what she was like when this video was taken in 1940, truly at the peak of her powers as a harpist.
@SeasaltMermaid I took care of an old friend of hers while she was dying. The lady was very big in social circles in San Diego and it cause a problem with her getting rest so I limited a guest's time. Mildred Dilling showed up and I had to ask her to leave. Talk about angry! "-----, are you going to let this girl order me off?" lol My patient was very ill and said I was the boss. After Ms. Dilling left, my patient said to me, "you want to hear one of her records?" "Records??"
@Songsmirth "Yes, she the world's leading harpist. She's taught Bob Hope." That's all I remember of that conversation. She came back the next day and I let her stay a little longer because my patient was doing well. They had grown up together and I got to hear a few stories. :) Anyway, she was a bomb, even at her age. She was in San Diego to teach. After my pt. died, she came to the house and asked if I had another job? I didn't. "Well, I have a friend. ." Bless her. :)
Many thanks, ko47ch. I never expected to find this! I once owned Mildred Dilling's recording of "La Source" and thought she and it had been completely forgotten. - John Austin, Australia
Why would anyone assume that an musician would cease playing when he or she became elderly?
Cachao, Lionel Hampton, Eartha Kitt, Les Paul and Andres Segovia all performed in public well into their 80's and Les Paul is over 90 now and still performing.
I actually got to do a masterclass and private lesson with Mildred Dilling way back in the early 1980s! She was a lovely and gracious person and the consummate harpist!
Mildred Dilling was my harp teacher. She told me that if I would stop having an age and would take me as a student because I was told I was too old to take up the instrument when I was 18. So I never turned 24 and have a career as a harpist.
@bogofusion may i ask why it was considered too old to play at the age of 18? maybe the instrument is just that hard to learn? I am 26 and I have plans to learn the harp as soon as I am ready. What do u think?
I started at the age 31 and am doing pretty good. : ) I won't be able to be a concert harpist, of course, but since I have an amazing teacher, I have gotten "distinctions" on all ABRSM exams so far. I am working on my pieces for grade 7 now. My goal is to achieve grade 8 by the age 40! It's rewarding to learn to play the harp! So go for it!
@64miguel One could make the general supposition that prior to age 18, a child or adolescent is more likely to have the time to devote to the instrument than a working adult. However, it is simply a generalization. Time invested is ultimately time invested whether you're a 15 year old with spare time or a 55 year old with good time management. The harp is too beautiful and refined an instrument to bring in age as a componenet, although statistics show that most music prodigies started young.
@64miguel In general, whether it's learning to play the harp or any other pursuit, don't let others bar you from pursuing an interest, no matter how humble or great your ambition is. Sometimes adults just don't know any better when they say things like that, and forget that music is above the limitations of age.Whether they are music geniuses or not, a good teacher will never tell you that you're too old to learn anything.
I studied harp under one of her students. But not Harpo Marx.
garymaher 3 months ago
wow what a gem. refreshing and oh so amazing. fantastic. thanks for sharing with us
CurtEHammell 7 months ago
If you enjoy vintage harp music - check out the SCORE to Orson Welles' "Return To Glennascaul". I didn't upload it, because it was already up (in sections). And it has recently been uploaded again - this time, in one piece - with an introduction by Peter Bogdanovitch. Again, I had nothing to do with the upload - I simply recommend it to lovers of harp music, as it is quite beautiful.
morpheusatloppers 9 months ago
Oh wow! She is amazing! Where did you get hold of this? I wish I had been born in the 40s......Thank's so much for uploading.
xxx
AnnieNancyharp 10 months ago
Thank you SO much for sharing this with us Kp. It means more than you will ever know. I didn't know something like this exhisted. :)
Songsmirth 11 months ago
amazing! wish i could play like tht! my fingers r still jumbled up when i play :P
banoffiepiee 1 year ago
I took a master class from Mrs. Dilling at U of O in 1976 or so. She was eighty at the time and still full of fire. She carried herself beautifully erect with a very proud posture -- more like an aged dancer -- and still playing beautifully at that time. She inspired everyone around her to work harder, practice more, take the harp more seriously than ever -- but still have fun. I can only imagine what she was like when this video was taken in 1940, truly at the peak of her powers as a harpist.
SeasaltMermaid 1 year ago 5
@SeasaltMermaid I took care of an old friend of hers while she was dying. The lady was very big in social circles in San Diego and it cause a problem with her getting rest so I limited a guest's time. Mildred Dilling showed up and I had to ask her to leave. Talk about angry! "-----, are you going to let this girl order me off?" lol My patient was very ill and said I was the boss. After Ms. Dilling left, my patient said to me, "you want to hear one of her records?" "Records??"
Songsmirth 11 months ago
@Songsmirth "Yes, she the world's leading harpist. She's taught Bob Hope." That's all I remember of that conversation. She came back the next day and I let her stay a little longer because my patient was doing well. They had grown up together and I got to hear a few stories. :) Anyway, she was a bomb, even at her age. She was in San Diego to teach. After my pt. died, she came to the house and asked if I had another job? I didn't. "Well, I have a friend. ." Bless her. :)
Songsmirth 11 months ago
I'm speechless. This is absolutely amazing. how did I not find it till now!
HarperDearMilo 1 year ago
Oh god, this is the real thing...magnificent musician and artist...again hands blessed by Apollo!
BalletBabyBoy 1 year ago
No scores present I see!
andylowings 1 year ago
No only was she an excellent harpist and musician___she was also very well spoken!
principessaeboli 1 year ago
Many thanks, ko47ch. I never expected to find this! I once owned Mildred Dilling's recording of "La Source" and thought she and it had been completely forgotten. - John Austin, Australia
jrakg 1 year ago
I saw her play when I was about 10. That made me want to play the harp, like mad... I still do, but even after 35 years of trying, I can't!
bearhedded 2 years ago
bellissima!!!
tilintela 2 years ago
She plays beautifully, but such drecky music.
zzindorf 2 years ago
this video is far more valuable today compared to the nonsense films that probably followed this 10-minute jewel
cutefidgety 2 years ago
Se is really an artist! Thanks for putting this on the internet. I started in 1972 with her method ''Old Tunes''.
Lovely to see. Her ''La Source'' is wonderful! Every harpist should see and hear this. Regina Ederveen - harpist The Netherlands
HarpmuziekRegina 2 years ago
Wow! Thanks for posting! And for the comments! Glad some of you got to know her!
TheMikester307 2 years ago
This is a wonderful thing to be able to find on you tube!
cmdviola 2 years ago
Why would anyone assume that an musician would cease playing when he or she became elderly?
Cachao, Lionel Hampton, Eartha Kitt, Les Paul and Andres Segovia all performed in public well into their 80's and Les Paul is over 90 now and still performing.
pointydogg 2 years ago
beautiful!
CassiannaMiranda 2 years ago
I actually got to do a masterclass and private lesson with Mildred Dilling way back in the early 1980s! She was a lovely and gracious person and the consummate harpist!
crossharps 2 years ago
87+ years old and still playing?
lithiumdeuteride 2 years ago
She still played a little by then but was mainly teaching and enjoying her status among the royalty of the harp world!
crossharps 2 years ago
amazing:)!
HaloHarp 2 years ago
wow!
irishkeyley 2 years ago
Mildred Dilling was my harp teacher. She told me that if I would stop having an age and would take me as a student because I was told I was too old to take up the instrument when I was 18. So I never turned 24 and have a career as a harpist.
bogofusion 2 years ago 3
@bogofusion may i ask why it was considered too old to play at the age of 18? maybe the instrument is just that hard to learn? I am 26 and I have plans to learn the harp as soon as I am ready. What do u think?
:)
64miguel 2 years ago
Comment removed
mrsrobaato 1 year ago
mrsrobaato @64miguel
I started at the age 31 and am doing pretty good. : ) I won't be able to be a concert harpist, of course, but since I have an amazing teacher, I have gotten "distinctions" on all ABRSM exams so far. I am working on my pieces for grade 7 now. My goal is to achieve grade 8 by the age 40! It's rewarding to learn to play the harp! So go for it!
mrsrobaato 1 year ago
Comment removed
drhealingsouls 1 year ago
@64miguel One could make the general supposition that prior to age 18, a child or adolescent is more likely to have the time to devote to the instrument than a working adult. However, it is simply a generalization. Time invested is ultimately time invested whether you're a 15 year old with spare time or a 55 year old with good time management. The harp is too beautiful and refined an instrument to bring in age as a componenet, although statistics show that most music prodigies started young.
drhealingsouls 1 year ago
Comment removed
drhealingsouls 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@64miguel In general, whether it's learning to play the harp or any other pursuit, don't let others bar you from pursuing an interest, no matter how humble or great your ambition is. Sometimes adults just don't know any better when they say things like that, and forget that music is above the limitations of age.Whether they are music geniuses or not, a good teacher will never tell you that you're too old to learn anything.
drhealingsouls 1 year ago