Francis Jackson (composer)

British organist and composer (1917–2022)

Francis Alan Jackson (2 October 1917 – 10 January 2022) was a British organist and composer who served as Director of Music at York Minster for 36 years, from 1946 to 1982.

Born in Malton, North Yorkshire, Jackson was the son of William Altham Jackson (1888 1944), an engineer and sanitary inspector, and Eveline May Suddaby (1889 1974), who both sang in the local church choir. He was a first cousin once removed of the lyric soprano Elsie Suddaby who, like him, studied with Sir Edward Bairstow. Jackson married Priscilla Procter, who died in 2013 at the age of 95. They had three children: Alice, William and Edward. He turned 100 in October 2017, and the occasion was marked by a special concert during that year's Ryedale Festival. He died on 10 January 2022 at the age of 104. His last visit to York Minster was in 2021, to see the newly restored organ following its £2 million refurbishment.

Jackson gave 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. 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", but his 164 opus numbers range well beyond choral and solo organ music. There are two acclaimed monodramas – Daniel in Babylon and A Time of Fire as well as the overture Brigantia, an organ concerto (1985), a symphony (1957), chamber music and solo songs. Jackson's creative output continued after his retirement. He recorded four CDs of his own organ music for Priory Records, and the organ concerto in 1999. Two CDs of his choral works have also be published.

Jackson was 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.