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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
- 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
References edit
- ^ "Décès du pilier de la musique ancienne au Canada ". Le Devoir, Christophe Huss 26 September 2015
- ^ "Christopher Jackson, 67, was master of Renaissance music". MontrealGazette, Arthur Kaptainis, September 27, 2015
- ^ "Conductor Christopher Jackson helped musicians shine". Robert Rowat, The Globe and Mail, October 14, 2015
- ^ a b Hélène Panneton. "Christopher Jackson". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ "Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal; Christopher Jackson: Heavenly Spheres". Juno Awards database.
- ^ "Monteverdi Helps Musicians Honor Late Conductor". Classical Voice North America, Arthur Kaptainis
- ^ Christopher Jackson / Studio de Musique Ancienne de Montréal: Musica Vaticana". AllMusic review by Stephen Eddins
- ^ "Early music pioneer has died, aged 67". Slippedisk, September 2015.
- ^ Huss, Christophe (26 September 2015). "Décès du pilier de la musique ancienne au Canada". Le Devoir. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
External links edit
- "Christopher Jackson" at AllMusic
juno