A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Jackson, William (of Masham)

JACKSON, William, known as Jackson of Masham, born Jan. 9, 1816 [App. p.685 "correct to 1815"], was son of a miller, and furnishes a good instance of the power of perseverance and devotion to an end. His passion for music developed itself at an early age, and his struggles in the pursuit of his beloved art read almost like a romance in humble life. He built organs, learned to play almost every instrument, wind and string, taught himself harmony and counterpoint from books, until at length, in 1832, when he had reached the mature age of 16, the lord of the manor of Masham having presented a finger organ to the church, Jackson was appointed organist with a stipend of £30. Through the circulating library in Leeds, he was able to study the scores of Haydn, Mozart, Spohr and Mendelssohn. In 1839 he went into business at Masham as a tallow-chandler, and in the same year published an anthem, 'For joy let fertile valleys ring.' In 1840 the Huddersfield Glee Club awarded him their first prize for his glee, 'The sisters of the sea'; and in 1841 he composed for the Huddersfield Choral Society the 103rd Psalm for solo voices, chorus and orchestra. In 1845 he wrote an oratorio, 'The Deliverance of Israel from Babylon,' and soon afterwards another entitled 'Isaiah.' In 1852 he made music his profession and settled in Bradford, where, in partnership with William Winn, the bass singer, he entered into business as a music-seller, and became organist, first, of St. John's Church, and afterwards (in 1856) of Horton Lane Chapel. On Winn's quitting Bradford, Jackson succeeded him as conductor of the Choral Union (male voices only). He was chorus-master at the Bradford festivals in 1853, 56 and 59, and became conductor of the Festival Choral Society on its establishment in 56. For the festival of 56 he again set the 103rd Psalm, and for that of 59 composed 'The Year,' a cantata, the words selected by himself from various poets. He compiled and partly composed a set of psalm tunes, and harmonised 'The Bradford Tune Book,' compiled by Samuel Smith. Besides the works already mentioned, he composed a mass, a church service, anthems, glees, part-songs and songs, and wrote a Manual of Singing, which passed through many editions. His last work was a cantata entitled 'The Praise of Music.' He died April 15th, 1866. His son, William, born 1853, was bred to the profession of music, became organist of Morningside Church, Edinburgh, and died at Ripon, Sept. 10, 1877.

[ W. H. H. ]