Background
Knapp was born in New York City.
Knapp was born in New York City.
Her parents were Walter C. Palmer and Phoebe Worrall Palmer. She wrote over 500 hymn tunes, the most familiar being the tune now called ASSURANCE for Fanny Crosby"s lyrics Blessed Assurance. Another hymn by Fanny Crosby for which Knapp wrote the music is "Nearer the Cross." Other hymn tunes by Knapp include ALBERTSON, the tune for "Jesus Christ is Passing By" by J. Denham Smith, and for "When My Love to Christ Grows Weak" by John R. Wreford.
Her tune CONSECRATION has been matched to "My Spirit Soul and Body" by Mary Dagworthy James.
Phoebe Palmer Knapp also wrote sacred choral and solo works, perhaps the best known of which is the Palm Sunday aria "Open the Gates of the Temple."
Knapp died in Poland, Maine.
The hymn writer Fanny Crosby was also a member of that church and a friend of Palmer"son