Francis Grier
Encyclopedia
Francis Grier is an English choral and vocal classical composer and psychoanalyst.
He was a chorister at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , music scholar at Eton College
, and organ scholar
at King's College, Cambridge
, then Assistant Organist and then Organist (1981-5) of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
. He made many recordings and broadcasts as organist and choir director, including playing La Nativité du Seigneur
by Olivier Messiaen
at the first ever Prom concert given over to a solo performer.
As chamber music pianist he has been playing with the soprano Dorothee Jansen in the Jansen-Grier-Duo since their inaugural recital in summer 2000.
As a composer he has written much for the Anglican choral tradition and several large-scale works. He has also written many instrumental pieces.
His latest work, The Passion, for chorus, soloists and orchestra, received its premiere in March 2006 in Minneapolis by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, directed by Philip Brunelle. The work received its UK premiere the following month in Cambridge by the BBC Singers
.
He also accompanies his children, violinist Savitri Grier (16) and cellist Indira Grier (14).
Francis Grier is also a psychoanalyst who maintains a private practice and is a visiting researcher at the Tavistock Marital Studies Institute.
He was a chorister at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle , music scholar at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, and organ scholar
Organ scholar
An organ scholar is a young musician employed as a part-time assistant organist at an institution where regular choral services are held. The idea of an organ scholarship is to provide the holder with playing, directing and administrative experience....
at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, then Assistant Organist and then Organist (1981-5) of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also, uniquely, the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford.-History:...
. He made many recordings and broadcasts as organist and choir director, including playing La Nativité du Seigneur
La Nativité du Seigneur
La Nativité du Seigneur is a work for organ, written by the French composer Olivier Messiaen in 1935....
by 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...
at the first ever Prom concert given over to a solo performer.
As chamber music pianist he has been playing with the soprano Dorothee Jansen in the Jansen-Grier-Duo since their inaugural recital in summer 2000.
As a composer he has written much for the Anglican choral tradition and several large-scale works. He has also written many instrumental pieces.
His latest work, The Passion, for chorus, soloists and orchestra, received its premiere in March 2006 in Minneapolis by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, directed by Philip Brunelle. The work received its UK premiere the following month in Cambridge by the BBC Singers
BBC Singers
The BBC Singers are the professional chamber choir of the BBC. As one of six BBC Performing Groups, the 24-voiced choir has been in existence for more than 80 years. The BBC Singers have commissioned and premiered works by the leading composers of the past century, including Benjamin Britten, Sir...
.
He also accompanies his children, violinist Savitri Grier (16) and cellist Indira Grier (14).
Francis Grier is also a psychoanalyst who maintains a private practice and is a visiting researcher at the Tavistock Marital Studies Institute.