Farewell to Francis Jackson (104)
11th January 2022
On the same day (10th January 2022) that my Swiss aunt died at the age of 100 and 4 months, the noted composer and organist Francis Jackson, died at the age of 104 and 2 months. York Minster has only had 5 organists since T Tertius Noble arrived in 1898 and the longest serving of these was organist no. 3, Francis Jackson who succeeded Sir Edward Bairstow in 1946 and remained in charge until 1982. If that was not enough, he remained as Organist Emeritus in York and continued performing into his 10th decade and composing into his 11th decade! Hundreds of former choirboys and girls will recall singing his anthems, hymns and service settings, including the sublime Jackson in G. Another 'Jackson in G' is this performance of JS Bach's Prelude and Fugue in G (BWV 541) recorded in York Minster in 1966.Paying tribute to Mr Jackson, The Dean of York, Jonathan Frost said: “The community at York Minster mourns the loss of an inspirational Organist Emeritus. Until the very end of his life, Francis retained an active, humorous and intellectually razor-sharp interest in the musical life of York Minster.
RIP - a great Master of Music!
