PHI CD 184: BRITISH CHORAL
TRADITION VOLUME THREE
The Choir of York Minster Directed by Francis Jackosn Live &
Session Recordings 1950-1976
Two CD set for the price of one Amphion
CD - £12.50 inc U.K. p&p if ordered direct from Amphion
If purchased from other retail outlets this 2 CD set should be
the price normally charge for one Amphion CD
Above: The Choir of York Minster, Easter Day
1966. Andrew Carter is fourth from the left, front row. Francis
Jackson & Ronald Perrin (Assistant Organist) seated centre.
John Rothera far right, front row.
CD ONE: The Choir of York Minster directed
by Francis Jackson Session Recordings from E.M.I.'s An Anthology
of English Church Music
[1] Magnificat in B flat - C. V. Stanford
(1852-1924).Rec. 3/4/50
[2] Give us the wings of faith - Ernest Bullock (1890-1979). Rec.
1/2/52.
[3] O where shall wisdom be found - William Boyce (1711-1779).
Rec. 1/2/52.
[4] Sing we Merrily - William Child (1606-1697). LX 1565. Rec.
March 1951.
[5] Rejoice in the Lord alway - attr. John Redford (d. c.1547).
Rec. March 1951.
Private live recordings made during services
at York Minster
[6] Magnificat & [7] Nunc Dimittis in D - George Dyson (1883-1964).
Rec. 1960.
[8] God is a Spirit - William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875). Rec.
17/5/59.
[9] Te Deum in E - Alan Gray (1855-1935). Rec. 1961.
[10] How bright these glorious spirits shine - Francis Jackson
(b.1917). Rec. 1961.
[11] Gloria Deo per immensa saecula - Healey Willan (1880-1968).
Rec. June 1964
[12] Miserere mei - William Byrd (1543-1623). Rec. 1/4/60.
[13] God liveth Still - J.S. Bach (1685-1750). Rec. 1/9/59.
[14] Wash me throughly - S.S. Wesley (1810-1876). Rec. 28/2/64.
[15] Blow ye the trumpet - Francis Jackson. Treble solo: Robin
Walker. Rec. 8/3/64
.[16] Te Lucis ante terminum - Balfour Gardiner Rec. November
1962
.[1] to [5] Columbia 78 r.p.m. record catalogue numbers in italics
[1] - [3] Alan Wicks - organ
[1] - [5] Francis Jackson - conductor
All other organ accompaniments by Francis JacksonUnaccompanied
items conducted by Francis Jackson
CD TWO: The Choir of York Minster directed by Francis Jackson
Private live recordings made during services at York Minster
[1] Magnificat & [2] Nunc Dimittis in B minor - Tertius Noble
(1867-1953). Rec. 1/11/55.
[3] Hodie Christus natus est - Francis Poulenc (1899-1963). Rec.
Christmas Day 1963.
[4] Coventry Carol - Kenneth Leighton (1929-1988). Rec. 1965.
[5] In dulci jubilo arr. - Robert Pearsall (1795-1856). Rec. 1959.
[6] Blessed Virgins' cradle song - Edward Bairstow (1874-1946).
Rec. 1959.
[7] A Spotless Rose - Herbert Howells (1892-1983). Rec. 6/1/56.
[8] Te Deum in C - Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Rec. 9/8/64.
[9] O God thou hast cast us out - Henry Purcell (1659-1695). Rec.
1962.
[10] Gloria in excelsis deo - Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623). Rec.
October 1963.
[11] Domine Jesu Christe - Francis Jackson. Rec. 1976.
[12] O bone Jesu - William Child (1606-1697). Rec. 12/11/63.
[13] Magnificat & [14] Nunc Dimittis in G - Francis Jackson.
Rec. June 1963.
[15] Virga Jesse Floruit - Anton Bruckner (1824-1896). Rec. 1976.
[16] To my humble supplication - Gustav Holst (1874-1934). Rec.
16/5/65
[17] O taste and see how gracious the Lord is - Vaughan Williams
(1872-1958). Rec. 9/8/64.
[18] Magnificat [5.07] & [19] Nunc Dimittis [2.56] in E flat
No. 1 - Charles Wood (1866-1926). Rec. Whit Sunday 17/5/59.
Organ accompaniments by Francis Jackson Unaccompanied items conducted
by Francis Jackson
TOTAL PLAYING TIME OF BOTH CDs: 2 HOURS 39 MINUTES
Francis Jackson Master of the Music York
Minster 1946 - 1982
remembers John Rothera and his tape recorder
This anthology, containing music from the 16th century to the
late twentieth, represents a part of the repertoire of the choir
of York Minster in the daily sung services. The first five tracks
were session recordings made by E.M.I. and issued on 78 r.p.m.
Columbia records as part of the four part series An Anthology
of English Church Music.
However, the majority of the recordings came about - one might
say almost fortuitously - through the dedication and persistence
of one who was a member of the choir for close on forty years
and never lost a chance to make a tape recording of anything he
considered of interest, and this included almost anything at any
time. It is not easy to get at his reason for accumulating what
in the end amounted to a bewildering collection of every kind
of item that goes into the making of a cathedral service - not
only canticles, anthems, hymns and psalms, but the reading of
lessons or snippets of sermons. No stone was left unturned to
procure the desired catch, and this is probably the chief attribute
possessed by John Rothera (1916-1997) which enabled his amassing
of things which were of interest to him, which included non-musical
things such as ordnance survey maps (of which he had the complete
set) countless photographs and even empty Woodbine cigarette packets
(collected during his smoking days) and Bovril jars which he could
not bear to throw away. This will make it clear that he lived
a bachelor existence, and his activities extended far into the
not-so-small hours of the night, causing his day to begin around
noon, except on Sunday when he had to be roused - usually by a
chorister - for the service at 10.30 a.m. His heavy Ferrograph
tape recorder was permanently resident at his place in the cantoris
choir stalls (where he sang for the whole of his songmanship),
and a microphone slung between the two sides of the choir was
a permanency for many years until it was pronounced unsightly
and had to be removed.
Hence came the enormous welter of things recorded, naturally very
varied in quality and always liable to be ruined by a missed lead,
a flat or sharp note, coughing or other extraneous interferences
but, on occasion, an acceptable or even an inspired performance.
But all of them, perfect or not so perfect are the result of a
live and meaningful act, not a studio product, all carefully edited,
and this, one hopes, can be discerned whatever the quality of
performance. Also one would hope for a certain measure of indulgence
by any listener who may detect a flaw or two in a piece which
was otherwise too good to reject.
It was the policy to use the best of music of all periods in the
choir's repertoire, and thus there was always a wide variety of
style to feed the interests of the singers. It was also the policy
to conduct items which were unaccompanied, but for the choir to
look after itself when the organ was used. It is somewhat remarkable
then that, unconducted, there was a high degree of unanimity for
the most part, as well as inspiration proceeding from the knowledge,
understanding and musicianship possessed by the individual choir
members.
John Rothera's interests were wide and varied and included taking
up Greek at an advanced age under the tutelage of a student at
the university who was a choral scholar in the choir. Astronomy
was also one of his absorbing subjects, causing him to obtain
a telescope which severely restricted his movements in his living
room. He also gained permission to ride his bicycle in pedestrian
areas of York on the plea of reduced walking mobility. A notice
displayed on the cycle proclaimed the fact. He was always liable
to make illicit recordings of orchestras, and on one occasion
his persistence went too far and his tape was confiscated by the
orchestra's manager who had already issued him with a warning.
His eccentricities enlivened the scene wherever he was, and here
his set purpose, his determination and staying power have left
us with a wealth of material which, after the somewhat herculean
task of playing them and choosing, affords us a glimpse of cathedral
life and music which is absorbing and unique.
© Francis Jackson, July 2004, East Acklam, North Yorkshire
DR. FRANCIS JACKSON O.B.E.
Francis Jackson, a native of Malton, Yorkshire, was a chorister
at York Minster from 1929 to 1933. He was a pupil of Sir Edward
Bairstow (1874-1946), organist of York Minster, and gained the
Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists with the Limpus Prize
for the highest marks in organ playing in 1937. In the same year
he graduated Bachelor of Music at Durham University and attained
the doctorate there in 1957. He was appointed Organist of Malton
Parish Church at the age of sixteen in 1933 and succeeded Bairstow
at York Minster in 1946.
Dr Jackson has given organ recitals throughout Great Britain,
and in Eire, Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, Switzerland and
Denmark. In addition, he has made several tours of the U.S.A.
Canada and Australia.
He has been a frequent broadcaster on BBC radio, and has made
many recordings of organ music and with York Minster Choir, whose
director he was until his retirement in 1982. He has played concertos
with several British orchestras and at the Henry Wood Promenade
Concerts.
Since his retirement from the Minster he has continued to make
many recordings, most of which have been released on CD by Amphion
Recordings which is run by Martin Monkman.
Francis Jackson has written extensively for the Church, and his
output, in addition to anthems and service settings, includes
six organ sonatas, along with many other pieces for the same instrument.
His output also includes a symphony and the overture Brigantia
for orchestra, together with two monodramas in collaboration with
John Stuart Anderson - Daniel in Babylon and A Time
of Fire - for speaker, chorus and organ - both works recorded
by Amphion, PHI CD 145 and PHI CD 146 respectively. His Eclogue
for piano and organ received its first performance at the International
Congress of Organists at Cambridge in July 1987. In 1993 he composed
two duets for two players, Ballade Op 97 and Suite Montrealaise
Op 93, five dances, for performance during the International Congress
of Organists in Montreal. A third duet, Colloquy, followed in
1996, since when have come seventeen anthems including one for
the service of thanksgiving in Manchester Cathedral for the restoration
of the city after the bombing, which was attended by the Queen.
A second Evening Service for treble voices, three masses - for
New York, Ampleforth and Salisbury - the latter including a brass
quintet as well as organ accompaniment. Noteworthy are a setting
of the Stabat Mater for baritone solo, chorus and organ
which the composer will be conducting at Leeds Parish Church tomorrow
evening. Also a Sonatina for recorder and piano and a Trio in
three movements for violin, cello and piano for the Klemperer
Trio was first heard in October 2001.
In 1961-62 Dr Jackson was President of the Incorporated Association
of Organists, and in 1972 held the same office in the Royal College
of Organists for a two-year term. He is Honorary Fellow of both
the Royal School of Church Music and Westminster Choir College
in Princeton, New Jersey. In 1978 he was appointed O.B.E. in the
New Year Honours. On retiring as organist of York Minster he received
the Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music, the Doctorate
of York University and - at the hands of the Archbishop of York
(the late Lord Blanch) - the Order of Saint William of York.
In 1996 the Ebor Press of York published Dr Jackson's biography
of Bairstow, entitled Blessed City, the life and works of Edward
C. Bairstow (ISBN 1 85972 192 0). In 1999 he was the organ
soloist for the first commercial recording of his Concerto for
Organ, Strings, Timpani & Celesta (1985) and Percy Whitlock's
Symphony in G minor for Orchestra & Organ. (Amphion-PHI
CD 155). His time is now devoted to composing music and giving
recitals. He is Patron of the Percy Whitlock Trust and his Fifth
Sonata for Organ was composed in homage to Whitlock during
the centenary of his birth in 2003.
Dr. Jackson has recently completed his Sixth Sonata for Organ,
written for the famous Schulze organ in St. Bartholomew's Church
Armley at its re-opening festivities after restoration last weekend.
It was performed by Dr. Graham Barber, professor of music at Leeds
University and organist of the church.
Producers Notes
The recordings heard on these CDs are taken from master tapes
whether from private or commercial sources. The commercial recordings
heard at the start of CD One (tracks 1 to 5) were made by E.M.I.
and formed part of four boxed collections released in the early
1950s on Columbia 78 r.p.m. records entitled An Anthology of English
Church Music from the 15th century to the present day. These recordings
were made under the auspices of the British Council and featured
'famous Cathedral and Church Choirs in their place of Worship'.
It is worth noting that the listing in the original booklet which
accompanied the second series of this anthology states that Rejoice
in the Lord alway (track 5, CD One) was performed by New College
Oxford, although, it is in fact the York Minster Choir. Columbia
got the facts correct on the record label.
The remaining recordings on these CDs are taken from private recordings
made between 1956 to 1976 and are live performances made during
services at York Minster. Because of the age of these spool tapes
very occasionally minor imperfections can be heard, but these
are no great distraction. Over fifty spool tapes were copied on
to thirty five CDs by the producer and from these the best performances
were reduced down to six CDs, from which Dr. Jackson made the
final selection. All the recordings have that 'almost could have
been recorded yesterday' sound to them, and it is indeed a tribute
to the semi professional recording equipment used and their operators
that they sound so well all these years later. The tape speed
was 71/2 i.p.s.
Most of these recordings were made by John Rothera [1916-1997]
who was an alto lay clerk in the Minster choir from the early
1950s until he left the choir the same day as Dr. Jackson retired
as Master of the Music at York Minster on 2 October 1982. Most
of John Rothera's tapes are now in the care of David Rogers of
Doncaster, to whom I am grateful for the loan of them. The others
who kindly loaned their spool tapes of the Minster Choir were
Andrew Carter the well known composer and founder of The Chapter
House Choir who sang bass in the Minster Choir from 1962 to 1969
and the Rev. John Roden, who taught at the Minster Song School
from 1963 to 1966. I am also grateful to the latter for kindly
providing the photographs for this booklet. John Roden is completing
a book on the centenary history of this institution which is scheduled
to be published at the end of 2004. Finally, my thanks are expressed
to Francis Jackson who has given every help and encouragement
during this monumental project.
Martin Monkman, Amphion Recordings, July 2004