Please give today to support Hymnary.org during one of only two fund drives we run each year. Each month, Hymnary serves more than 1 million users from around the globe, thanks to the generous support of people like you, and we are so grateful.

Tax-deductible donations can be made securely online using this link.

Alternatively, you may write a check to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again

Person Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search
Tune Identifier:"^i_know_not_what_shall_befall_me_sweney$"✖
In:people✖

Planning worship? Check out our sister site, ZeteoSearch.org, for 20+ additional resources related to your search.
Showing 1 - 2 of 2Results Per Page: 102050

John R. Sweney

1837 - 1899 Person Name: Jno. R. Sweney Composer of "[I know not what shall befall me]" in Joy to the World John R. Sweney (1837-1899) was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and exhibited musical abilities at an early age. At nineteen he was studying with a German music teacher, leading a choir and glee club, and performing at children’s entertainments. By twenty-two he was teaching at a school in Dover, Delaware. Soon thereafter, he was put in charge of the band of the Third Delaware Regiment of the Union Army for the duration of the Civil War. After the war, he became Professor of Music at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, and director of Sweney’s Cornet Band. He eventually earned Bachelor and Doctor of Music degrees at the Academy. Sweney began composing church music in 1871 and became well-known as a leader of large congregations. His appreciators stated “Sweney knows how to make a congregation sing” and “He had great power in arousing multitudes.” He also became director of music for a large Sunday school at the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia of which John Wanamaker was superintendent (Wanamaker was the founder of the first major department store in Philadelphia). In addition to his prolific output of hymn melodies and other compositions, Sweney edited or co-edited about sixty song collections, many in collaboration with William J. Kirkpatrick. Sweney died on April 10, 1899, and his memorial was widely attended and included a eulogy by Wanamaker. Joe Hickerson from "Joe's Jottings #9" used by permission
John R. Sweney

Mary G. Brainard

1837 - 1905 Person Name: Miss M. G. Brainard Author of "Not Knowing" in Joy to the World Brainard, Mary G. The hymn "I know not what awaits me" (Confidence and Joy) in the Methodist Sunday School Hymn Book 1879; given sometimes as "I know not what shall befall me," is attributed to "Mary G. Brainerd." --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907) =================== Brainard, Mary G., p. 1554, ii. Concerning the hymn which bears this signature in I. D. Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos, "I know not what awaits me," Mr. Sankey says, in his My Life and Sacred Songs, 1906, p. 102: "When Mr. Bliss [the composer of the tune] lost his life.in the terrible railroad wreck at Ashtabula, Ohio [Dec. 30, 1876], his trunk reached Chicago safely, as it had gone before by another train. In his trunk was discovered this hymn. Mr. Bliss had rearranged the words of the poem to some extent, and had composed the tune. Sentence by sentence the words are full of pathetic interest in connexion with the author's [Bliss's] tragic death so soon afterwards." The original hymn we have failed to trace. The form in the Sacred Songs and Solos is that found, together with the tune, in Mr. Bliss's trunk. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Mary G. Brainard

Export as CSV
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.