Francis Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the British organist and composer. For the British politician, Sir Francis Stanley Jackson, see Stanley Jackson.

Francis Alan Jackson CBE (born 2 October 1917) is pre-eminent as a British organist and composer.

A popular figure in the musical profession, both nationally and internationally, Jackson was born in Malton, Yorkshire and received his early education as a Chorister at York Minster under his precursor, the legendary Sir Edward Bairstow. Himself Organist of York Minster from 1946 until his official retirement in 1982, Jackson played for the wedding of Elizabeth II's cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent to Katherine Worsley on 8 June 1961.

As well as having given recitals and concerts all over the world, Jackson has made numerous recordings of solo organ music, and of choral music with York Minster Choir.

[edit] Composition and writing

His extensive output of sacred and secular music includes canticles, anthems, hymn tunes (including the widely sung East Acklam), organ sonatas and other organ pieces such as Diversion for Mixtures, two acclaimed monodramas - Daniel in Babylon and A Time of Fire, an overture, Brigantia, a concerto, a symphony, and solo songs. Jackson's creative output has continued since his retirement.

He is also the author of a biography of his teacher, mentor, and predecessor Sir Edward Bairstow entitled Blessed City: The Life and Works of Sir Edward C. Bairstow (ISBN 1 85072 192 0).

[edit] Key Events

1929-1933 Chorister of York Minster under Edward Bairstow
1933-1940 Organist of Malton Parish Church
1937 Gains FRCO with the Limpus Prize
1946-1982 Organist of York Minster
1957 Gains DMus Durham University
1970 Becomes Fellow of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, New Jersey
1972-1974 President of the Royal College of Organists
1978 Appointed OBE for services to music.
1982 On retiring from York Minster in 1982 he received the Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, the Doctorate of the University of York and, at the hands of the Archbishop of York, Lord Blanch, the Order of Saint William of York.
2007 Promoted to CBE in the Queen's birthday honours for services to music.