Helen Steele (born June 21, 1894)[1] was an American composer[2] and pianist[3] who is best remembered today for her composition America, Our Heritage, for band and chorus.[4]

Steele was born in Enfield, Connecticut,[5] to Agnes McCane and George Steele. She studied music at Wellesley College[6] and Mount Holyoke, where she earned a B.A. On September 12, 1921, she married Wager Swayne Kelly, a voice teacher who also used the name Wager Harris. He died in 1944.[1]

Steele accompanied tenor Enrique Ruiz on piano on his recitals,[7] and collaborated with him on several compositions. Her composition America, Our Heritage, was performed live on the Ed Sullivan Show on August 17, 1969, and recorded by the Washington D.C. Festival Chorus.[4]

Steele was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).[8] Her music was published by Shawnee Press, Inc.[9] Her vocal compositions included:

  • “Duerme”[8]
  • “El Afilador” (The Scissors Grinder; with Enrique Ruiz and Guido Vandt)[11]
  • “Lagrimas” (Blue Tears; English text by Guido Vandt; Spanish text and music by Enrique Ruiz; arranged by Helen Steele)[11]
  • “Legend of Befana”[12]
  • “Let’s Planet”[13]
  • “May Our Love Today Live Tomorrow” (text by Guido Vandt; music by Enrique Ruiz and Helen Steele)[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Steele, Helen. "Ancestry® | Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Ruth (1976). Contemporary American composers : a biographical dictionary. Boston: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-1117-0. OCLC 2035024.
  3. ↑ Stern, Susan (1978). Women composers : a handbook. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-1138-3. OCLC 3844725.
  4. 1 2 "Helen Steele Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. ↑ Rehrig, William H. (1991). The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music: Composers and Their Music. Integrity Press. ISBN 978-0-918048-08-0.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International Encyclopedia of Women Composers. Books & Music (USA). ISBN 978-0-9617485-0-0.
  7. ↑ Music Reporter. City Center of Music and Drama. 1947.
  8. 1 2 Claghorn, Charles Eugene (1996). Women composers and songwriters : a concise biographical dictionary. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-585-03162-2. OCLC 42329817.
  9. ↑ The School Musician. F. L. McAllister. 1955.
  10. ↑ The Instrumentalist. The Instrumentalist. 1975.
  11. 1 2 Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1956). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
  12. ↑ Stewart-Green, Miriam (1980). Women composers : a checklist of works for the solo voice. Boston, Mass.: G.K. Hall. ISBN 0-8161-8498-4. OCLC 6815939.
  13. ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1959). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
  14. ↑ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1953). Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series.
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