Internationally known composer, harpist and multi-instrumentalist William Jackson has been at the forefront of Scottish music for many years. In 1976 he was a founding member of the top Scottish band Ossian, described by the Boston Globe as "a gem in the same league as Ireland's Chieftains," and has toured and recorded with Ossian extensively throughout Europe and North America.
On stage William joyfully shares personal anecdotes, stories and old Celtic tales with a dry wit. As a solo, performer his music is truly transporting. William's primary instrument is the Scottish harp, or clarsach, which he also teaches. He also plays wire strung harp, flute, whistle, uillean pipes and piano. In the words of Alastair Clark of the Scotsman " ... the great thing about Jackson - the skill and artistry of the man - lies in his lightness of touch. William Jackson will leave you asking for more."
In addition to performing, William has gained a substantial reputation as a composer, known for combining traditional and classical music, with such major works as The Wellpark Suite, St. Mungo, Inchcolm, and A Scottish Island to his credit. In 1999 his composition 'Corryvreckan' from the album Inchcolm was included on Fiona Ritchie's favourites collection, "The Best of The Thistle & Shamrock, Volume 1."
William's music is featured on many BBC and other Television productions; he is in demand as a composer of sensitive music, and increasingly as a producer. He directed and performed the music for "Battle of the Clans" for The History Channel, and produced and recorded the music for a new six part series about Scottish National Trust properties for Scottish Television. In addition, he has jointly produced the exciting Gaelic Women CD, and has produced recordings by Billy Ross and Iain MacInnes - both for the Greentrax label - and the band Calluna for Mill Records.William's performance on harp, whistle and bodhran is featured on the soundtrack of the motion picture starring Robert Duval and Michael Keaton, which was filmed in Scotland. Iain MacInnes of the BBC’s ‘Pipeline’ program has said, "He’s got the best ear of anyone I’ve ever come across, and he has total command of the Scottish traditional idiom." (Sounding Strings)
On Burns Day (January 25) 1999, William was announced as the winner of the popular "Song for Scotland" competition, which was organized to find an anthem for the new era in Scotland. In the words of Michael Tumelty, one of the three judges of the competition, “...William Jackson has produced a noble and beautiful song, one which captures the atmosphere of our heritage and landscape, and which, at the same time, looks forward to the new Scotland that is, hopefully, around the corner... it deserves to find a place in the heart and consciousness of the country... It has the pulse of the era. It deserves to become common currency.”
His winning composition, ‘Land of Light,' was released on CD in March 1999 to much acclaim: "This is a must for Scots all over the globe, I'd say, and possibly the first tartan platinum of the 21st century. No not possibly --make that surely." "Pipers and Pipe Bands around the world will do well to add this tune to their repertoire." 'Land of Light' was performed at Edinburgh Castle on July 27th, 2000 at a special performance to mark the 100th birthday of the Queen Mother, and was featured in the Edinburgh Tattoo 50th Anniversary in August 2000. William has also performed on the harp for HRH The Prince of Wales at The Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh.
January 2002 saw the premiere of William’s newest suite, ‘Duan Àlbanach,’ commissioned for the opening of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. Said Rob Adams of The Herald, “Jackson is renowned as a melodist, and his Duan Àlbanach, inspired by the ancient poem of the same name, continued his history of fine tunes. ...in describing the Bannock Burn and the marching cellos of Nechtansmere it had the sense of place that Jackson always brings to these larger pieces. ...blood-stirring momentum...”
Another field of major interest to William is Music Therapy. He trained as a music therapist at the London Guildhall School of Music, and specializes in working with children with cerebral palsy and autism. He has worked in this field in both the UK and the US.
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