Nancy Wertsch: Music
Blessed Assurance
(SSATTB, A cappella. Published by Oxford University Press. Release August 2007. ISBN: 9780193870260)
Phoeb Knapp. Duration: 4:15 minutes.
I was commissioned in 1993 by the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City to write a virtuoso a cappella arrangement of “Blessed Assurance”. It was performed at the 2006 ACDA conventions both in NYC and in St. Louis, and is recorded on St. Ignatius’s CD “Wondrous Love”. It was also featured by Voices of Ascension in its American Composers concert.
NOTE: This is a different arrangement from "Blessed Assurance, Black Gospel".
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Text: Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)
Tune: Phoeb Knapp (1839-1908)