Christopher Jackson (musician) explained

Christopher Donald Jackson (27 July 1948 – 25 September 2015) was a Canadian organist, harpsichordist and choral conductor. He is best known as a specialist in the performance of Renaissance music, and as the co-founder and long time conductor of the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal.^[1]

Early life and education

Jackson was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He graduated from the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy and the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal.

Career

As a young man, Jackson worked as an organ builder. He began teaching at Concordia University in 1973.^[2] Jackson co-founded both the Société des Concerts d'orgue de Montréal and the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal in 1974.^[3] He became the artistic director of the latter institutions in 1988. He conducted the ensemble in several recordings, including the 1998 Heavenly Spheres, which was awarded a Félix Award from the ADISQ and the Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Vocal or Choral Performance in 2000.^{[4] [5]}

Jackson taught at the music faculties of Concordia University^[6] and McGill University. He was Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Concordia University from 1994 to 2005. He also held the post of organist and choirmaster at a variety of churches in Montreal, including Eglise Tres-Saint-Nom de Jesus, and St. George's Anglican Church.^[4]

Jackson received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sudbury in 1999 and was inducted as a member of the Royal Society of Canada in 2009.

In 2011 Jackson conducted the Studio de music ancienne for the recording of an album, Musica Vaticana.^[7]

Jackson died of lung cancer on September 25, 2015 in Montreal, aged 67.^{[8] [9]}

Selected discography

• Heinrich Schütz : Christmas Story. CD Fonovox VOX7847-2 1981
• H. I. F. Biber : Vespers. CD REM311207 1993
• Giacomo Carissimi : Jonas, Jephté. Marc-Antoine Charpentier : le Reniement de Saint Pierre H.424. CD Analekta 1994
• André Campra, Henry Dumont : Le Chant de la Jérusalem des terres froides. CD K617 1995 (reissue Montréal et Indiens Abenakis 2001, Musique sacrée en Nouvelle-France ACD22764 2017)
• Henry Desmarest : 4 Motets Lorrains. 2 CD K617053 1995
• Palestrina : Missa Ut re mi fa sol la. CD Analekta
• Heavenly spheres - L’Harmonie des Sphères, Mouton, Gombert, Lassus, Morales, Palestrina, Victoria. CD CBC
• Sacred Spaces - Lieux sacrés, G. Gabrieli and Monteverdi CBC 2002
• Puer natus est Giovanni Gabrieli Concerto Palatino ACD22311 11/2003
• Arvo Pärt : Stabat Mater ACD22310 03/2004
• Marc-Antoine Charpentier : Messe à quatre chœurs H.4, 3 Psaumes des Ténèbres, H.228, H.229, H.230, Ensemble Stradivaria, Studio de Musique ancienne de Montréal. CD Atma 2005
• Rise, O my soul Bull, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, William Simmes, Thomas Tomkins, Ward, ACD22506 03/2007
• Roma Triumphans Luca Marenzio et al. SACD22507 01/2008
• Orlando di Lasso : Lagrime di San Pietro ACD22509 09/2010
• Musica Vaticana ACD22508 09/2011
• Splendore a Venezia (compilation) ACD23013 10/2013
• Terra Tremuit : Brumel Missa Et ecce terrae motus ACD22653 03/2014
• Orlando di Lasso : Laudate Dominum ACD22746 03/2017

External links

• "Christopher Jackson" at AllMusic

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Notes and References

1. https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/musique/451062/christopher-jackson-1948-2015-deces-du-pilier-de-la-musique-ancienne-au-canada "Décès du pilier de la musique ancienne au Canada "
2. https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/christopher-jackson-67-was-master-of-renaissance-music "Christopher Jackson, 67, was master of Renaissance music"
3. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/conductor-christopher-jackson-helped-musicians-shine/article26817180/ "Conductor Christopher Jackson helped musicians shine"
4. Encyclopedia: Christopher Jackson. The Canadian Encyclopedia. Hélène Panneton.
5. https://junoawards.ca/nomination/2000-best-classical-album-vocal-or-choral-performance-studio-de-musique-ancienne-de-montreal-christopher-jackson/ "Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal; Christopher Jackson: Heavenly Spheres"
6. https://classicalvoiceamerica.org/2016/09/22/monteverdi-helps-musicians-honor-late-conductor/ "Monteverdi Helps Musicians Honor Late Conductor"
7. https://www.allmusic.com/album/musica-vaticana-mw0002199278 Christopher Jackson / Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal: Musica Vaticana"
8. http://slippedisc.com/2015/09/early-music-pioneer-has-died-aged-67/ "Early music pioneer has died, aged 67"
9. Web site: Huss. Christophe. Décès du pilier de la musique ancienne au Canada. Le Devoir. 26 September 2015 . 27 September 2015.