Fannie Morris Spencer (August 15, 1865 - April 9, 1943) was an American composer and organist who wrote a collection of 32 hymns and was a founding member of the

American Guild of Organists The American Guild of Organists (AGO) is an international organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the US, headquartered in New York City with its administrative offices in the Interchurch Center. Founded as a professional educat ...

. Spencer was born in Newburgh, New York, to Cynthia McCollum and Timothy W. Spencer. She studied music in New York City with

Alexander Lambert Alexander Lambert (November 1, 1863 – December 31, 1929) was a pianist and a piano teacher. Biography He was born on November 1, 1863, in Warsaw, Poland, to Henry Lambert. He graduated from the Vienna Conservatory of Music in 1878.

and Samuel P. Warren, then taught and worked as a church organist. She taught at the Dr. Holbrook’s Military School and Miss Fuller’s School for Girls in Ossining, and at Miss Spence’s School for Girls (today the

Spence School , motto_translation = Not for school, but for life we learn , founder = Clara B. Spence , tuition = $60,880 (2022-2023) , chair = , head_label = , head ...

) in New York City. She was an organist at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, and Pilgrim Congregational Church, all in New York City. Spencer chaired the music committee of the Professional Women’s League and served as vice president of the New York State Music Teachers Association, where she worked with Florence Sutro. She also chaired the music committee of the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. In 1896, Spencer was one of 145 organists (and only four women) to found the American Guild of Organists. She gave organ recitals at churches throughout America, including two recitals at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. Spencer’s music was published by

Oliver Ditson Oliver Ditson (October 20, 1811 – December 21, 1888) was an American businessman and founder of Oliver Ditson and Company, one of the major music publishing houses of the late 19th century. Early life and career Oliver Ditson was born in Bos ...

, G. Schirmer Inc.,

James Hotchkiss Rogers James Hotchkiss Rogers (February 7, 1857 – November 28, 1940) was an Americans, American organist, composer, teacher, music critic, and publishing, publisher.William Osborne, "Rodgers, James H(otchkiss), in ''The Grove Dictionary of American ...

, Novello & Co. (today the

Wise Music Group Wise Music Group is a global music publisher, with headquarters in Berners Street, London. In February 2020, Wise Music Group changed its name from The Music Sales Group. In 2014 Wise Music Group (as The Music Sales Group) acquired French cl ...

), Ewer & Co., and Phelps Music Co. Her compositions included:

Organ

*''32 Hymn Tunes'' (collection) *''Magnificat in C '' *''Magnificat in G''

Vocal

*“As Pants the Hart” *“Awake My Love” *“Bethlehem” *“Homeward” *“Lord’s Prayer” *“O Lord, Rebuke Me Not” *“Unless” *“Well-a-Day” *“When I Know”

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Fannie Morris American women composers American organists 1865 births 1943 deaths Hymn tunes