Christopher Jackson (musician)
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 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
- Schütz: Christmas Story Fonovox VOX7847-2 1981
- H. I. F. Biber: Vespers REM311207 1993
- Carissimi: Jonas, Jephté M.-A. Charpentier le Reniement de saint Pierre Analekta
- Campra, Du-Mont Le Chant de la Jérusalem des terres froides K617 1995 (reissue Montréal et Indiens Abenakis 2001, Musique sacrée en Nouvelle-France ACD22764 2017)
- Desmarest: Motets lorraines K617–053 2 cd 1995
- Palestrina: Missa Ut re mi fa sol la Analekta
- Heavenly spheres - L’Harmonie des Sphères Mouton, Gombert, Lassus, Morales, Palestrina, Victoria 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 Ensemble Stradivaria Atma 2005
- Rise, O my soul Bull, Byrd, Gibbons, William Simmes, 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
- "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
- 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. "Décès du pilier de la musique ancienne au Canada". Le Devoir. Retrieved 27 September 2015.