Paul Jacobs (organist)
Encyclopedia
Paul Jacobs is an American organist
.
Paul Jacobs began piano
lessons at age five and organ
lessons at age 12 in his hometown of Washington, Pennsylvania
. At age 15 he was appointed head organist of Immaculate Conception Church, a parish of over 3,000 families in Washington, PA. Jacobs then attended The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, double-majoring in organ (with John Weaver) and harpsichord
(with Lionel Party), while serving as organist at the Washington Memoral Chapel in Valley Forge National Park. During his final semester as an undergraduate student, he performed the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach
several times, including once in an 18-hour non-stop marathon concert in Pittsburgh on the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, July 28, 2000. Jacobs completed a master's degree from the Yale School of Music
, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Jacobs has performed the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen
in eight American cities since 2002, each time in a nine-hour marathon concert.
In 2003 Jacobs was invited to join the faculty of The Juilliard School and the following year, was named chairman of its organ department, making him one of the youngest faculty appointments in the school's history. Winning accolades and awareness for the pipe organ from both critics and audiences alike, Jacobs has performed on five continents, and by the age of 32 performed in each of the 50 United States. His extensive repertoire includes music from the 16-century through contemporary times, including many new works written for him. He has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra
, the Chicago Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony
, the Phoenix Symphony
, and the Pacific Symphony
, among others.
Jacobs is known for playing demanding programs exclusively from memory. He has memorized the complete works of Olivier Messiaen, as well as the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms
, César Franck
, and many others.
In addition to numerous awards and honors, Jacobs was the first organist to be given the Harvard Musical Association's Arthur W. Foote Award in 2004. He received the Yale School of Music's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005, and in 2007 he was awarded the William Schuman Scholars Chair at The Juilliard School. Jacobs has recorded several works of J.S. Bach on the JAV Label and works by Messiaen at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin for Naxos.
He won a Grammy Award
for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011 for his recording of Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
.
Paul Jacobs began piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
lessons at age five and organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
lessons at age 12 in his hometown of Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. At age 15 he was appointed head organist of Immaculate Conception Church, a parish of over 3,000 families in Washington, PA. Jacobs then attended The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, double-majoring in organ (with John Weaver) and harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
(with Lionel Party), while serving as organist at the Washington Memoral Chapel in Valley Forge National Park. During his final semester as an undergraduate student, he performed the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
several times, including once in an 18-hour non-stop marathon concert in Pittsburgh on the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, July 28, 2000. Jacobs completed a master's degree from the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
, studying organ with Thomas Murray. Jacobs has performed the complete organ works of Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
in eight American cities since 2002, each time in a nine-hour marathon concert.
In 2003 Jacobs was invited to join the faculty of The Juilliard School and the following year, was named chairman of its organ department, making him one of the youngest faculty appointments in the school's history. Winning accolades and awareness for the pipe organ from both critics and audiences alike, Jacobs has performed on five continents, and by the age of 32 performed in each of the 50 United States. His extensive repertoire includes music from the 16-century through contemporary times, including many new works written for him. He has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, the Chicago Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, the Phoenix Symphony
Phoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony is a major United States symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona.Founded in 1947 when Phoenix had a population of less than 100,000, the orchestra began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year...
, and the Pacific Symphony
Pacific Symphony
The Pacific Symphony is a symphony orchestra located in Orange County, California. The orchestra performs at the Renée and Henry Segerstom Concert Hall, part of the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California...
, among others.
Jacobs is known for playing demanding programs exclusively from memory. He has memorized the complete works of Olivier Messiaen, as well as the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, César Franck
César Franck
César-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a composer, pianist, organist, and music teacher who worked in Paris during his adult life....
, and many others.
In addition to numerous awards and honors, Jacobs was the first organist to be given the Harvard Musical Association's Arthur W. Foote Award in 2004. He received the Yale School of Music's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005, and in 2007 he was awarded the William Schuman Scholars Chair at The Juilliard School. Jacobs has recorded several works of J.S. Bach on the JAV Label and works by Messiaen at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin for Naxos.
He won a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra) at the 53rd Grammy Awards in 2011 for his recording of Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement.
External links
- 'The Vital Organist' in New York magazine
- "The Organ As Extreme Sport" New York Times
- Interview with Paul Jacobs by Joyce Robinson for The Diapason magazine
- Article on Paul Jacobs' 2002 Messaien Marathon by Frank Ferko