Francis Jackson

British composer and organist Francis Alan Jackson was born in Malton, North Yorkshire on 2 October 1917. As a child he was a chorister at St Michael's Church, Malton, then sang in Edward Bairstow's choir at York Minster for four years. He studied at Durham University and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in 1937.

From 1933 until 1940 he was organist at St Michael's, Malton. Following active service in World War II he succeeded Edward Bairstow as organist and director of music at York Minster from 1946, retiring after thirty-six years in 1982. He toured worldwide and also made many recordings.

His output as a composer includes not only organ works, anthems, canticles, hymn tunes and other choral music, but also vocal works, chamber music, a symphony, an organ concerto, the overture Brigantia, Variations on a Theme of Vaughan Williams (Mantegna) and two monodramas.

Francis Jackson died in York on 10 January 2022, aged one-hundred-and-four.

 

A selection of articles about Francis Jackson

Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics

Classical music news - January 2022 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world lost this month

Fire and Energy - Peter Gould provides a compelling end to Derby Cathedral's summer organ series, heard by Mike Wheeler

Superb Control - Tom Corfield gives ths last of this summer's Derby Cathedral summer organ recitals, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Exciting Teamwork - Roderic Dunnett was in Worcester for the 2011 Three Choirs Festival

Robustness and Transparency - Francis Jackson plays the organ of Derby Cathedral, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Glowingly Realised - Robert Manning, David Johnson and Tom Corfield share an organ recital at Derby Cathedral, appreciated by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. An exuberant performance - Mike Wheeler reviews the last of Derby Cathedral's summer organ recitals, given by Tom Corfield

Ensemble. Enjoyably feisty - Derby Cathedral organ recitals by Ian Hare, Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Peter Gould and Jonathan Gregory, David Briggs, Simon Bell and David Johnson, reviewed by Mike Wheeler