JACKSON BERKEY • His composing and performing career spans over forty years of touring, concertizing and recording. As both a soloist and as featured keyboard artist with the Grammy Award-winning Mannheim Steamroller, he has recorded over twenty-five CDs on the SDG Records® and American Gramaphone labels. "Harpsichord Carols" marks the first complete CD of his works written specifically for harpsichord. Together with guest harpist, Kathy Bundock Moore, Berkey's new CD offers a tapestry of harpsichord, harp and piano colors seldom recorded with such clarity and beauty.
HARPSICHORD CAROLS • Commissioned in the mid 1990s, the Carols are now published in sets of 4. All originally for harpsichord solo, Jackson has expanded many of them for different instruments including two for piano; six for harpsichord and harp; one for flute orchestra; and three for hand bells. In 1999, four of the Carols won first prize in the highly respected AliAnor Harpsichord Composition Competition.
LORD RICHARD Berkey’s harpsichord came to him with quite a history: The instrument was given as a gift by the English actor, Richard Harris, to songwriter Jimmy Webb. Jimmy used it in New York during the period when he was writing an album for Harris which included the famous MacArthur Park. In keeping with its historical background, Jackson has named the harpsichord Lord Richard.
Jackson Berkey 2-Manual Sperrhake-Passau Harpsichord
Steinway D Concert Grand Piano
and
Kathy Bundock Moore
Lyon & Healy Concert Harp
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QUOTES & REVIEWS
HARPSICHORD CAROLS
"Hard to choose which I like best... I especially loved how 'We Three Kings' developed...and the way you use the harpsichord is very idiomatic. In fact, I found that you are not afraid of exploiting the instrument in a very strong way...which is good. Loud chords, driving rhythms, lyrical passages mixed with unmeasured prelude...great."
Elaine Funaro, harpsichordist, Durham, North Carolina
"All but one of the twelve tracks on this CD by Omaha resident and Mannheim Steamroller keyoardist Jackson Berkey prove to be selections that are equal parts arrangement and fantasia on old Christmas standards."
"In addition to supplying harmonizations that are anything but typical (often employing off-kilter meters at cross purposes with the original), Berkey cleverly deconstructs the tunes, spinning out material based on motifs or somewhat longer segments. Stylistically, these entries are an eclectic fusion of classical, popo, and jazz idioms which fortunately don't come aqcross as jarring or inconsistent. Toanl, polytonal, and cluster-derived verticals coexist surprisingly well here. Some stuffy sorts may have their wince factor kick in when hearing this release, but your reviewer finds it attractive, charming, and tasteful."
"Most of these items are scored for a duet of harpsichord and harp, though a few call for solo forces encompassing piano or one of the above two instruments. Both Berkey (keyboards) and Kathy Bundock Moore (harp) perform with skill and sensitivity. Sound and editing are exemplary. Surely there's no other holiday release quite like it."
David Cleary, New Music Connoisseur
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KATHY BUNDOCK MOORE, HARPIST
Kathy Bundock Moore is the author of several books, articles and compositions, and performs at more than 100 events each year including orchestral concerts, solo recitals, and numerous other engagements. An active member of the American Harp Society, she serves as a music theory editor for the American Harp Journal and as an adjudicator for national harp competitions. Her textbook, Thumbs Up! Beginning Harp at the College Level, is used by dozens of leading universities. Dr. Moore holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree in music theory from Eastman School of Music and a Ph.D. in music theory from Michigan State University.
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JACKSON BERKEY • COMPOSER / PIANIST
Jackson Berkey’s artistry encompasses that of an acclaimed pianist, an inventive and highly creative composer, a meticulous producer and recording artist. His range of accomplishments in music combine with a depth of talent that is formidable indeed. His New York Town Hall Debut in 1969 launched a remarkable and highly varied career.
First known as touring pianist for the Norman Luboff Choir, Jackson has recorded and toured as “Featured Keyboard Artist” with Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller for the past 30 years. With his advanced degree in performance from New York’s Juilliard School, Berkey’s musical foundation lies in the classical, sacred, and chamber genre.
His earlier American Gramaphone releases “Sunken Cathedral”, “Ballade”, and 109 featured compelling performances of classical piano works by Scriabin, Beethoven, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Persichetti. That pursuit now continues with performances of works by Scarlatti, Debussy, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt. American Gramaphone’s “Holiday Musik” series offers Berkey’s performances of Harpsichord works by Domenico Scarlatti and J. S. Bach.
On SDG Records®, Jackson’s solo CD, “Facets”, includes stunning performances of many “signature” works throughout his career, including classical pieces by Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Sibelius, Beethoven, Chopin, and Fauré. On that label the artist has also released “The Mountains and The Sea”, “Berkey Meets Horowitz on the 503”, “Cape May Preludes”, “Harpsichord Carols”, and in 2004, “Atlantic Fantasy”. All CDs offer performances of original solo keyboard and instrumental works from his published catalog.
An accomplished composer, Jackson Berkey’s publications include music for solo voice, solo instruments, chamber ensemble, orchestra, symphonic band, and choir. His “Chamber Concerto for Organ, Winds, Percussion, and Strings” and his “Conversations for Harp and Chamber Orchestra” were both premièred in 2004. From solo musicians to full orchestra and multiple choirs, Berkey’s compositions create excitement through brilliant rhythmic patterns, metric modulations, and intense dance rhythms. His sensitivity to text and to both joyous and tender melodies give pleasure to every performer, including those oft-neglected players of the inner lines in ensemble music. Every musical force interacts with its musical partners, whether they be solo or duet melodies or a percussion ensemble with organ. His writing reveals careful attention to structure, form, and performance success; even with difficult-to-balance entities such as harp and orchestra. Highly evident in his intelligent and expressive solo piano works is Berkey’s unique ability to shape phrases and draw extraordinary color from the instrument.
Jackson and his wife Almeda - herself a distinguished conductor, singer, and librettist - have documented their work with SDG Records®, which also records the professional choir, Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum. Almeda conducts pristine performances of many of Jackson’s compositions, as well as beautiful music from all periods of classical music and folk music. A beautiful sampling of Luboff choral arrangements is showcased on their nostalgic “Norman Luboff Remembered”. Six other Cantorum CDs include Berkey compositions among other classical works. Also recording two CDs of Jackson’s treble choral music on SDG Records® is the internationally recognized Seattle Girls’ Choir conducted by Dr. Jerome Wright.
An ASCAP award-winning composer, Jackson’s catalog of over 300 works is enjoying hundreds of fine performances across the United States and abroad. Recent honors include First Prize in the New Music for Young Ensembles Composition Contest in New York City for his Piano “Trio Kassarjian”; the Alienor Harpsichord Festival at Hilton Head, S.C; and the Nebraska Individual Artist Fellowship for Performing Arts, Distinguished Achievement in Composition Award. Jackson Berkey appeared on the artist roster of Baldwin Piano and Organ Company for more than two decades. Performances of several of Jackson’s longer works have been conducted by Almeda in New York’s Carnegie Hall. She also conducted the world première of his “L’Ultima Amor” for triple women’s choirs, commissioned for the 400 voices of the AmericaFest 2001 International Women’s Choir Festival. Some works have been set to film and to dance, such as “ Arma Lucis”, performed at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
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KATHY BUNDOCK MOORE, HARPIST
Kathy Bundock Moore is the author of several books, articles and compositions, and performs at more than 100 events each year including orchestral concerts, solo recitals, and numerous other engagements. An active member of the American Harp Society, she serves as a music theory editor for the American Harp Journal and as an adjudicator for national harp competitions. Her textbook, Thumbs Up! Beginning Harp at the College Level, is used by dozens of leading universities. Dr. Moore holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree in music theory from Eastman School of Music and a Ph.D. in music theory from Michigan State University.
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About SDG Records® and SDG Press®
Soli Deo Gloria - "To God, alone, the glory."
J.S. Bach used this phrase as a signature at the end of many of his works. One sees it over doorways and music instruments in Europe. SDG Press® was founded in 1985 to publish the compositions and arrangements of Jackson Berkey.
For many years, both Almeda and Jackson toured and performed with Norman Luboff, the extraordinary choral performer, composer, and publisher. It was at Norman's suggestion that the Berkeys formed "Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum" which Almeda conducts. SDG Records® was first established as the record label for the Cantorum.
Jackson Berkey also has many works published by Walton Music Corporation, Norman Luboff's highly regarded publishing company. Berkey's entire published catalog may be viewed at www.berkey.com. Click "Official Website" above.
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