Walker 'Piper' Jackson (d. 1798)

The 18th century gentleman piper Walker Jackson was one of the first Irish tune composers to have had their music published. 13 of his compositions were published in the booklet Jackson's Celebrated Irish Tunes in 1774. They are almost all jigs, no reels or hornpipes are in this collection.

Amongst these tunes are the now standard Jackson's Morning Brush and Jackson's Night Cap (aka Strike the Gay Harp). Jackson's Celebrated Irish Tunes is in the public domain and can be freely viewed on the website of Na Píobaire Uilleann.

Many more tunes have been attributed to him, particularly those with Jackson in the title, however Nicholas Carolan points out 'Through confusion with another later Jackson, a Co. Monaghan musician, far more tunes have been credited to Walker Jackson than he composed.' (see entry under Jackson, Walker in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians)

This short biography of Jackson was published in 1787 (Ferrar, History of Limerick (A. Watson & Co., Limerick, 1787):

'Walker Jackson is a native of the County of Limerick and a good musician, who has composed a number of excellent pieces of music, which are much admired for their harmony and expression. The most favoured of Mr. Jackson's compositions are: Jackson's Morning Brush: the Turret: the Humours of Castle Jackson: Jackson's Ramble: Roving Blade and the Cream of the Jest.'

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