Sometimes the calamitous events of an age can totally obscure and nearly obliterate the lives and careers of those who must share the stage with them.  It seems, such is probably the case with Helen C. Crane. a talented young lady from New York, who showing great promise was accepted to study composition with Philip Scharwenka at the Klindworth Scharwenka Conservatory in Berlin in the last decade of the 1800s. Her talent was monumental ensuring acceptance in that society. When finished with her studies she was accepted for publication by Breitkopf & Hertl and G. Vetter;  the Berlin Philharmie brought with them  the music of this American protigee when they performed her symphonic suite at the Saint Louis Exposition in 1904.   and her career and the application of her abilities went on unhindered until the advent of the First World War.  She was forced of necessity to return to the United States in 1917, now at 49 year of age,  and lived only slightly more than a decade longer.  The ties to her European audience were strong though: in 1923 the Mozarteum in Salzberg featured an all-Helen Crane program in her honor.

Whether you are a pianist, a cellist, a violinist, a conductor or a person who just loves good music, take this time to acquaint yourself with the many facets of this  American gem.