We started this little competition on Ash Thursday with 32 saints. After today's vote, the field will have been whittled down to 16 remaining saintly souls. But in order to get there we must first make it through the Battle of the Bands as Fanny Crosby faces G.F. Handel. Who will retain the last seat in the Saintly Sixteen before the music stops? Well, that, as always, is up to you.
Yesterday, in the tightest race of Lent Madness 2017, Sarah the Matriarch barely laughed away a valiant challenge from Elizabeth Ann Seton 51% to 49%. See, what have we been saying all along? Your vote counts!
Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby wrote more than eight thousand sacred texts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Referred to as the Queen of Gospel Song Writers, she is arguably the most prolific author of American hymns and gospel songs.
Born in 1820 in Brewster, New York, Fanny caught a cold as an infant and developed inflammation in her eyes, which resulted in full-scale blindness. She would later remark, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.” Around her fifteenth birthday, Crosby enrolled at the New York Institution for the Blind, and she began to write hymns and gospel songs.
Crosby attended multiple churches, including an Episcopal church, but she is most closely identified with the Wesleyan Holiness movement. She formally joined Cornell Memorial Methodist Episcopal in 1887. Her hymn texts became so popular that composers of that era would seek her out to find lyrics for their melodies—a reversal of the typical hymn-writing process. Her best-known text, “Blessed Assurance,” was written in this way during a visit to Phoebe Knapp’s home after Crosby heard the tune for the first time.
Crosby described her hymn-writing process by saying, “It may seem a little old-fashioned, always to begin one’s work with prayer, but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration.” Crosby could often write six or seven hymns a day, rivaling the output of prolific hymn writers Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley.
While known as a hymn-writer, Crosby was committed to helping others, often donating the proceeds from her writing to rescue missions around New York City. Known as “Aunt Fanny” by the numerous missions she contributed to around the city, she died in 1915. At her request, her tombstone reads: “Aunt Fanny: She hath done what she could; Fanny J. Crosby.”
Collect for Fanny Crosby
O God, the blessed assurance of all who trust in you: We give you thanks for your servant Fanny Crosby, and pray that we, inspired by her words and example, may rejoice to sing ever of your love, praising our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
G.F. Handel
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle, Germany. Handel showed a propensity for music at an early age. However, his father forbade him from dabbling in music, dreaming instead that his son would one day become a civil attorney. Handel did not listen. It is said that Handel (or his mother) smuggled a small clavichord into his room, and he practiced in secret.
On a visit to see his uncle (who was a valet for a duke), Handel surprised the duke with his skills on an organ. The duke persuaded Handel’s father to allow his son to continue studying music. Handel rapidly mastered the pipe organ, harpsichord, oboe, flute, and violin. That mastery led to a prolific writing life that included 42 operas, 29 oratorios, more than 100 cantatas, trios, duets, arias, chamber music, a large number of ecumenical pieces, odes and serenatas, and 16 organ concerti.
Handel initially struggled to establish himself, beginning his career as a church organist and writing pieces that are lost to the world today. Then he became a violinist, supplementing his income as a music teacher. His fame began to grow when he transitioned his main instruments to the organ and harpsichord. Following stints as a musician, he began a foray into composition. His first operatic debut, Almira, was wildly popular. Following two more operas in Hamburg, Handel became dissatisfied with the German music scene. He traveled to Italy and ultimately made his home in London.
He was commissioned to write an oratorio about the Bible, and in 1742, Handel’s Messiah debuted on the New Music Hall Stage in Dublin, Ireland. Often considered Handel’s most famous work, Messiah is frequently classified as Christmas music, out of a mistaken belief that it commemorates Christ’s birth. Messiah was in fact written as an ode to all of Christ’s life—annunciation, nativity, passion, and resurrection—proclaiming salvation for all who believe.
Handel died on April 14, 1759. At the time of his death, Handel was completely blind. His life was celebrated in a state funeral with full honors at Westminster Abbey. Handel is honored with a feast day in the Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist churches on July 28.
Collect for G.F. Handel
Almighty God, beautiful in majesty and majestic in holiness, you gave to your musician George Frederick Handel grace to show forth your glory in music: may we also be moved to sound out your praises as a foretaste of your eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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317 comments on “Fanny Crosby vs. G.F. Handel”
I was assigned to look the bios for tables at a retreat and one of the music table took the name Fanny Crosby, I found she wrote under a great many number of names, because the hymnal publishers didn't want a whole book of her hymns only. Every time I attended a church for a meeting, I check there hymnals to see how many FC are in there. I most I found was one church's hymnals had 22. I tried to find out under what other names she wrote and was unable to. This pairing may kick start my search again.
Years ago I read an extract from a 19th c. diary (I forget whose) which told of following a funeral procession (he did not know whose) into Westminster Abbey. The deceased was evidently a prominent musician as he was interred next to Handel. What impressed the diarist was that in opening the grave the workman accidentally broke into Handel's coffin and he actually saw Handel's great toe! Aunt Fanny is probably undervalued in the Episcopal Church (she is not represented at all in the Hymnal 1982) but still, how could I possibly not vote for the bearer of that great toe?
This is a difficult one! I grew up singing "Blessed Assurance" and learned to play some Handel!
Through the centuries, Handel has received well-deserved accolades, but my heart belongs to Fanny Crosby since her hymns were a part of my spiritual awakening. I have sung and loved her hymns across three denominations. Her biography made me love her even more!
I can (sort of) play "Blessed Assurance on the ukulele. Fanny Crosby gets my vote!
We have just done a "Saint" --Fanny Crosby with the kids at Sunday School. Did want to point out, yes Fanny had an infection in her eyes at 6 wks old, the family called the doctor & he was not available. So another "doctor" came (who was not a doctor) & told the family to put a mustard poultice on her eyes, which left her permanently blind. Had to vote for her, blind & 8000 poems set to music, all loved hymns.
Another hard one - two child prodigies, one a lyricist, one a composer. On this one I am going for the music - if only for the times when what I've needed to pray could not find words - even through hymns - but the music itself has carried me home.
I love Handel's music, but when I make my monthly visits to the people in my congregation who are home-bound, they usually request to sing the hymns of Fanny Crosby because that is the music that sustains them. Among their favourites are 'Blessed Assurance', 'Rescue the Perishing', 'To God be the Glory', Saved by Grace', and 'Pass me not, O gentle Saviour'. How could I not give St. Fanny my vote?
Handel is most known for his Messiah and while he composed the music, I seem to recall that the lyrics were, to echo 2 Timothy 3:16, breathed out by God.
While Crosby surely knew scripture, she wrote her own lyrics, both to her music and others. And for that she won the blessed assurance of my vote.
I'm sure a lot of people think Ms Crosby is the better of these two, and that saddens me.
But it is what it is. Handel's works will live forever. ("King of kings and Lord of lords")
Aunt Fanny was not to be passed over. Her hymn "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior" touches my soul deeply. Earl Thomas, Blues and Gospel singer does a heartfelt rendition. Check it out on youtube.
I had to go with Handel. I have sung the Messiah many times and Love the story of Christ's life. Blessed Assurance is wonderful as well so it was a hard decision.
This was an easy vote for me.
At the time in my teenage years when I was beginning to take Christian faith seriously, and when I was also realising that I actually liked this "classical music" stuff which everyone around me was telling me that a person of my age (and my working-class background) shouldn't like, I also discovered that the Christian faith and classical music could be relevant to each other. And that discovery was via Mr. Handel and "Messiah".
More recently, I wrote a small group resource - published by Mediacom here in Australia - for those wanting to use "Messiah" as the springboard for their prayers and reflection in Advent. It has the title "The Making of the Messiah". (If you're interested, please visit Mediacom's website - http://www.mediacom.org.au - and type Messiah into the search function as a keyword.)
My concern with Ms. Crosby is in the fact that her hymns frequently reflect a theology with a substitutionary atonement, and with the idea that those who get their theology wrong will be fuel for an eternal BBQ, and I think we can do a lot better than this in our worship.
So, of the two prolific musicians with vision problems, my vote is for Handel.
"and when I was also realising that I actually liked this “classical music” stuff which everyone around me was telling me that a person of my age[...]shouldn't like"
Omg Bob, I can totally relate to this.
Like you have people my age saying "contemporary music in the church might be cool", and the grownups sometimes go along with it, while meanwhile I'm sitting here and going "nooo I come to church for the hymnal ;_;"
And perhaps a few wild-card berths in the Saintly Sixteen for those who, while losing their rounds, still engaged a great deal of interest among participants (Studly Ted, for example, in this year's LM).
I voted for Handel just because I prefer that kind of music. Seems reasonable to me considering this is a "composer vs. composer" matchup, but... Should I have taken personal characteristics and life stories more into account?
This is my story,
This is my song,
Praising my Savior
All the day long
Fanny Crosby and Blessed Assurance for the win!!!
This was a tough one. I love Handel's music, but Fanny Crosby wrote music that millions of ordinary Christians can sing. As one person commented, her hymns are frequently running through my head. I am a church pianist, and often I use her hymns as prelude or postlude or offertoty. People can hear the tune, and sometimes they will remember the words. I just had to vote for Aunt Fanny.
I chose "Aunt Fannie" for her simple approach to life and her dedication to her gifts and her faith. I really like that she helped the missions in NYC.
I voted for Fanny. I am not sure I can articulate exactly why, but it has something to do with Handel having a great gift from God that he used to write GLORIOUS music, whereas Fanny worked hard to praise God in words. I have several friends who are totally tone deaf; to them music (yes even the Messiah!) is just noise but the words are more appreciated.
By the way, I just love Diana's words!!
Handel went from success to glory his whole life long; he was allied with the aristocracy and enjoyed their patronage, while other composers (e.g. Mozart) suffered greatly from the lack thereof. I think the guy had enough glory. I'd like to pack the house for Fanny. We should support the bottom as well as the top of the musical heap. Go Fanny Go!!!
Handel's life was by no means a glittering succession of triumphs. His professional fortunes waxed and waned dramatically. By 1741 he was a has-been. No one was interested in his music, he was in seriously poor health, and facing bankruptcy, yet again. But through all his hardships, he never lost his faith in Christ, and continued to give generously to the poor, even though he himself was nearly destitute. Then, by God's grace, he composed "Messiah" and everything changed for the good, permanently. Handel knew the bottom, as well as the top, of the musical heap.
I am in absolute awe of the women who did so much with their gifts in times when not much was expected. I am also overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment to the communities they served. Thanks to our fearless leaders for showing us true examples of fearlessness. Having grown up on Handel this is a tough choice. My first lasting impression of the pathos of scripture was listening to Handel's Messiah. Tough choices. Or should I say a feast of choices.
Fanny blindness never stopped her.
Although I love Handel's oratorios (especially Messiah) Fanny has brought more people to Christ through her hymns. They have comforted me in times of sadness and trouble and uplifted me at other times. She got my vote.
Fanny - grew up with her. Blessed Assurance was a favorite of by my mother and my grandmother. Messiah, although I am sick of sinning it every year and skipping the Easter portion most of the time, it was the last thing my mother heard me sing. so Handel it was.
Great Freudian slip with "sinning" Messiah every year. Many can doubtless relate.
As ever, I am late to the comments section. Am I the token UU here? I was disappointed to discover that Ms Crosby's hymns have not been adopted/adapted into the hymnal of the Unitarian Universalists. I am inclined to vote for underdogs... but my vote is for Handel. Quincy's own heroine Abigail Adams wrote movingly in her dairy of hearing the premiere of "Messiah" in London. Handel gets my vote.
One of my favorite pieces in "Messiah" is in the Passion segment: the chorus number "All we like sheep have gone astray". Throughout the piece, the music is oddly joyful, like sinners reveling in their sin. But at the end, the music abruptly turns very somber, as the chorus sings "And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Gives me chills to hear it!
I voted for Fanny because G.F. already has a feast day for himself and is so well known. Going for the lesser well known.
crosby certainly for singability
handel for theological orthodoxy/scripture to music
i had to go with handel
I think this may be the most difficult choice yet! Both choices were blind at some point in their lives. Both were child prodigies. Both composed very well-known works. Because I've been trying to vote consistently for specifically Episcopal/Anglican saints, I've voted for Handel this round, seeing as he is more closely associated with Anglicanism than Fanny Crosby.
Aunt Fanny's a cutie but had to go with Handel.