We have a little mystery that we are hoping you might be able to help us solve. A frequent donor to the collections at the Morrison County Historical Society, Clifford Johnson of Cold Spring, Minnesota, has become quite intrigued with the connection between Laura Jane Musser and world renown pianist, Van Cliburn. Cliff noticed in a Little Falls newspaper article that Van Cliburn played a work by Laura Jane during one of the three performances he gave in Little Falls in the 1950s. The title of the composition is “Child Reminiscenses (On the Lake, The Donkey, Fireflies)”. Laura Jane, daughter of Richard D. and Sarah (Walker) Musser of Little Falls, Minnesota, graduated from the Julliard School of Music in New York with a degree in music and composition. An early supporter, she hosted several concerts for Van Cliburn before he acquired international fame by winning the first Tschaikowsky International Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958. Laura Jane continued to support Van Cliburn throughout his career.
If you have any information on the music, “Child Reminiscenses”, or on any other music Laura Jane may have composed, please let us know (mchs@littlefalls.net; 320/632-4007). Thanks!