Frances Jane Crosby - known to all as Fanny - is one of the most famous and prolific writers of religious hymns in our country's history. It is estimated that she wrote over 8,000 hymns before dying in 1915 at the age of 94.
Fanny Crosby went blind just weeks after her birth in 1820, stemming from the treatment a doctor recommended for inflammation in her eyes. By the time she was one, her father had passed away, leaving her to be raised by her mother and grandmother.
A devoutly religious family, Fanny was prone to memorizing long passages from the Bible, passages that would be woven into her timeless musical pieces.
She also wrote popular tunes, including the somewhat maudlin "Rosalie, The Prairie Flower" and other songs.
But she is best remembered for her hymns. She was asked to play "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" at the funeral of President Ulysses S. Grant in 1885. She was inducted in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1975.
There is no greater testament to her talents than the fact that people are still performing her songs today, songs that were written some 140 years ago.
Please enjoy a modern reworking of a Fanny Crosby classic, "Blessed Assurance" by the Christian popular music band Third Day.
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Have a great weekend.
1 comments:
Thanks for sharing a bit about the remarkable Fanny Crosby. Today is the 159th anniversary of her conversion. To learn more, I invite you to check out my daily blog, Wordwise Hymns for today. God bless.
Post a Comment