Fanny Crosby
In the history of church music, Fanny Crosby stands out as the queen of gospel hymns. Born in 1820, she became blind at six weeks old. Rather than hinder, blindness gave her an ear for rhyme and an opportunity for education. She believed that God had ordained her blindness for His glory. By the time of her death in 1915, she had written more than 8,000 hymns many of which are still sung today.
OrrViews Article Fanny Crosby on Cyber Hymnal I had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the New Fanny Crosby Project on the Public Square with Dave Zanotti. Click here for more information.
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Fanny Program
This 30 minute presentation followed by a question and answer time is conducted in first person and in costume. Program fees vary upon travel distance. For more information or to schedule a performance contact Raylene Hlavaty here, or watch a short video clip of the performance here.
In 1875, Fanny Crosby was already well known as a hymn writer and many of her most enduring hymns were already being enjoyed all over the world. Although she had become blind at around six weeks old from an eye infection treated wrongly, she never thought of herself hindered in any way. On the contrary, blindness gave Fanny the opportunity for an education and a quick ear for rhyme. She began attending the New York Institution for the Blind when she was 14 and soon became well known for her poetry. She was able to meet many notable people while at the blind school including presidents, statesmen and famous people of many talents.
The Cholera epidemic in 1849 drained Fanny, who was now a teacher at the school, as she helped care for the sick. She mourned the loss of ten students who died from the disease. Some time after this, she had a dream that a dying friend asked her, “will you meet me in heaven?” The dream affected her deeply and caused her to consider her spiritual condition. It wasn't until the autumn of 1850 that she finally found the peace she was looking for during a series of revival meetings. She had gone forward for the third time. “After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn 'Alas and Did my Savior Bleed' and when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, 'hear Lord I give myself away' [her] soul was flooded with a celestial light. [She] sprang to her feet shouting hallelujah and then for the first time [she] realized that she had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the world in the other.”
Several years before writing her first hymn, she wrote lyrics for popular songs. George F. Root, a well known song writer of the day, taught music at the school and when he discovered Fanny's talent, soon made use of it. They wrote more than 50 songs (including “There's Music in the Air”) and two cantatas together. Finally, one of Fanny's friends persuaded her to contact William Bradbury, a publisher of hymns. Fanny was nervous about the meeting, but to her surprise, Mr. Bradbury had heard of her and had been hoping to meet her. Thus began a lifetime career in hymn writing which would span almost 40 years and involve many collaborating composers. William Howard Doane was one notable friend and composer with whom Fanny wrote many hymns including “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior,” and “Rescue the Perishing”
Fanny would always begin her work with prayer. Often she would write (or rather compose in her mind memorizing as she went) late at night to avoid distractions. She liked to hold a little book in her hands because it helped her to focus and remember more accurately. She had the same need to revise as other poets, but occasionally a poem would come in such a complete way that no revision was necessary. Such was the case with her well known “Blessed Assurance.” Her friend Pheobe Knapp was visiting and played a little tune she had composed. When she had finished playing, she asked Fanny what it “said” to her. The words to “Blessed Assurance” were the answer.
The Cholera epidemic in 1849 drained Fanny, who was now a teacher at the school, as she helped care for the sick. She mourned the loss of ten students who died from the disease. Some time after this, she had a dream that a dying friend asked her, “will you meet me in heaven?” The dream affected her deeply and caused her to consider her spiritual condition. It wasn't until the autumn of 1850 that she finally found the peace she was looking for during a series of revival meetings. She had gone forward for the third time. “After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn 'Alas and Did my Savior Bleed' and when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, 'hear Lord I give myself away' [her] soul was flooded with a celestial light. [She] sprang to her feet shouting hallelujah and then for the first time [she] realized that she had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the world in the other.”
Several years before writing her first hymn, she wrote lyrics for popular songs. George F. Root, a well known song writer of the day, taught music at the school and when he discovered Fanny's talent, soon made use of it. They wrote more than 50 songs (including “There's Music in the Air”) and two cantatas together. Finally, one of Fanny's friends persuaded her to contact William Bradbury, a publisher of hymns. Fanny was nervous about the meeting, but to her surprise, Mr. Bradbury had heard of her and had been hoping to meet her. Thus began a lifetime career in hymn writing which would span almost 40 years and involve many collaborating composers. William Howard Doane was one notable friend and composer with whom Fanny wrote many hymns including “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior,” and “Rescue the Perishing”
Fanny would always begin her work with prayer. Often she would write (or rather compose in her mind memorizing as she went) late at night to avoid distractions. She liked to hold a little book in her hands because it helped her to focus and remember more accurately. She had the same need to revise as other poets, but occasionally a poem would come in such a complete way that no revision was necessary. Such was the case with her well known “Blessed Assurance.” Her friend Pheobe Knapp was visiting and played a little tune she had composed. When she had finished playing, she asked Fanny what it “said” to her. The words to “Blessed Assurance” were the answer.
Fanny's Hymns
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Songs I sing in my performance:
All the Way my Savior Leads Me To God Be the Glory Blessed Assurance Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior Safe in the Arms of Jesus Rescue the Perishing |
Other well known Fanny songs:
Near the Cross Tell Me the Story of Jesus Draw Me Nearer (I am thine O Lord) Praise Him, Praise Him Jesus is Calling Redeemed He Hideth my Soul |
