Quick Facts
Biography
Francis Alan Jackson, CBE (born 2 October 1917) is a British organist and composer. He was the organist and director of music at York Minster for 36 years.
Jackson was born in Malton, Yorkshire and received his early education as a chorister at York Minster under his predecessor, Sir Edward Bairstow. His first cousin once removed was the lyric soprano, Elsie Suddaby. He was appointed organist and director of music at York Minster in 1946 and held these positions until his 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. The final voluntary was the final movement of Charles-Marie Widor's Symphony No. 5 for organ: Toccata, which set a fashion for the use of this piece for weddings.
Both nationally and internationally acclaimed, Jackson has given recitals and concerts all over the world, and made numerous recordings of solo organ music and of choral music with the choir of York Minster.
Composition and writing
Jackson's 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.
Jackson 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. His autobiography, Music For A Long While, was published in 2013.
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.
- 2012: Received the Lambeth degree of DMus (Cantuar) from Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury
- 2012 Received the inaugural Medal of the Royal College of Organists "for organ playing, organ and choral composition, and choral conducting."