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From Earth to Heaven
Music from the Minsters of Leeds and York
Leeds Minster LS2 7DJ
22 October 2022 @ 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm
Moving, spiritual music by the late Dr Francis Jackson, Sir Edward Bairstow and Philip Moore celebrating the connection between the Minsters of Leeds and York.
This concert is given in tribute to Dr Francis Jackson, who passed away early this year, aged 104.
It will last about 90 minutes, including an interval, during which refreshments will be served.
Programme
| Benedicite | Francis Jackson |
| Magnificat in G | Francis Jackson |
| Nunc dimittis in G | Francis Jackson |
| All wisdom cometh from the Lord | Philip Moore |
| Stabat Mater | Francis Jackson |
| Interval | |
| Let all mortal flesh keep silence | Edward Bairstow |
| I sat down under his shadow | Edward Bairstow |
| Evening Hymn | Francis Jackson |
| Tu es Petrus | Philip Moore |
| From Earth to Heaven | Philip Moore |
Leeds Minster has been fortunate to enjoy a long-established musical relationship with York Minster, going back to the time that Sir Edward Bairstow moved from Leeds to York in 1913 to take up the position of Organist and Director of Music, a post he held until his death in 1946.
During his tenure Bairstow oversaw the development of Francis Jackson from chorister to assistant organist, with Jackson eventually succeeding him at the tender age of 28. Dr Jackson held the post until his retirement in 1982 and was succeeded by Philip Moore who in turn stayed until 2008, completing a span of 95 years’ occupation of the post between them.
All three wrote music for choirs based at Leeds Minster (then Leeds Parish Church), with Jackson and Moore completing commissions for both the Choir of Leeds Parish Church and St Peter’s Singers as their relationships with the choirs and their Director Dr Simon Lindley developed. Today’s recital celebrates these connections as we pay special homage to Dr Jackson.
Programme notes
The recital opens with Bairstow’s internationally-renowned motet Let all mortal flesh keep silence, written for the choir of Leeds Parish Church in 1906, and recorded by St Peter’s Singers in 2014.
From Jackson’s pen come his much-loved Benedicite (which featured in this summer’s Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul’s), and Evening Service in G (‘Me in G’ as he called it). If the haunting Nunc Dimittis (‘Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace’) suggests a willingness to dwell on what may greet all of us one day, then the stunning harmonies of Evening Hymn suggest both vision and confidence on that front. The programme also affords a rare chance to hear his Stabat Mater, composed for St Peter’s Singers’ 20th anniversary in 1997.
Philip Moore’s music is represented by his haunting anthem All wisdom cometh from the Lord, by his rumbustious setting of the text Tu es Petrus (‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church’), composed for the 40th anniversary of St Peter’s Singers in 2017, and finally by From earth to heaven. This was commissioned by Leeds Parish Church in 1997 for the dedication of the magnificent Sally Scott window that depicts Jacob’s Ladder over the entrance to the Minster’s Nave – we are thrilled to welcome the University of York Brass Ensemble and the choir of Abbey Grange Academy to join us in this fabulous work.
St Peter’s Singers
University of York Brass Ensemble
Choir of Abbey Grange Academy
William Campbell Organ
Alexander Woodrow Director