Fanny Crosby

Frances Jane van Alstyne (née Crosby; March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915), more commonly known as Fanny J. Crosby, was an American mission worker, poet, lyricist, and composer. She was a prolific hymnist, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, with more than 100 million copies printed. She is also known for her teaching and her rescue mission work. By the end of the 19th century, she was a household name.

Crosby was known as the "Queen of Gospel Song Writers" and as the "Mother of modern congregational singing in America", with most American hymnals containing her work. Her gospel songs were "paradigmatic of all revival music", and Ira Sankey attributed the success of the Moody and Sankey evangelical campaigns largely to Crosby's hymns. Some of Crosby's best-known songs include "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour", "Blessed Assurance", "Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home", "Praise Him, Praise Him", "Rescue the Perishing", and "To God Be the Glory". Some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one person in their hymnals, so Crosby used nearly 200 different pseudonyms during her career.

Crosby also wrote more than 1,000 secular poems and had four books of poetry published, as well as two best-selling autobiographies. Additionally, she co-wrote popular secular songs, as well as political and patriotic songs and at least five cantatas on biblical and patriotic themes, including The Flower Queen, the first secular cantata by an American composer. She was committed to Christian rescue missions and was known for her public speaking.

Birth and Death Data: Born March 24, 1820 (Brewster), Died February 12, 1915 (Bridgeport)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1899 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter

Notes: Name also appears as Frances van Alstyne, Frances Jane Crosby, Frances J. Crosby, or F. J. Crosby.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 96 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 0740 7-in. 11/16/1899 Blessed assurance J. J. Fisher Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]570 7-in. 12/5/1900 Blessed assurance J. J. Fisher Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1914 7-in. 1/27/1903 Safe in the arms of Jesus Choir [i.e., Lyric Trio] Vocal chorus lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1914 10-in. 1/27/1903 Safe in the arms of Jesus Choir [i.e., Lyric Trio] Chorus lyricist  
Victor B-2217 10-in. 2/6/1905 Safe in the arms of Jesus Trinity Choir Chorus, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2530 10-in. 5/8/1905 Tho' your sins be as scarlet Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-2699 10-in. 8/7/1905 Rescue the perishing Frank C. Stanley Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2700 10-in. 8/7/1905 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2701 10-in. 8/7/1905 Near the Cross Frank C. Stanley Male vocal solo, with organ lyricist  
Victor B-2998 10-in. 1/10/1906 Saved by grace John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3083 10-in. 2/2/1906 Jesus is calling Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3354 10-in. 5/2/1906 Blessed assurance Trinity Choir Chorus, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-3922 10-in. 10/25/1906 Pass me not, O gentle saviour Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6261 10-in. 6/9/1908 Jesus is calling Harry Macdonough ; Frank C. Stanley Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6545 10-in. 10/15/1908 Only a beam of sunshine John H. Bieling ; Harry Macdonough Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-6748 10-in. 1/25/1909 All the way my Saviour leads me Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9331 10-in. 7/28/1910 Rescue the perishing Reinald Werrenrath Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9358 10-in. 8/18/1910 Some sweet day, bye and bye Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-9410 10-in. 9/6/1910 Near the Cross Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-9487 12-in. 9/28/1910 Open the gates of the temple Evan Williams Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-10250 10-in. 5/2/1911 Safe in the arms of Jesus Trinity Choir Mixed vocal quartet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11257 10-in. 11/21/1911 Close to thee Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-11259 10-in. 11/21/1911 Bye and bye Harry Anthony ; James F. Harrison Male vocal duet, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor C-18599 12-in. 11/6/1916 Gospel songs no. 3 Victor Mixed Chorus Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra lyricist  
Victor B-23684 10-in. 2/19/1920 Engang min livstraad briste skal Eleonora Olson ; Ethel Olson Female vocal duet, with violin and organ lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 96 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Crosby, Fanny," accessed March 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169.

Crosby, Fanny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169.

"Crosby, Fanny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102169

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