A Sequence for the Ascension

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Francis Grier writes: ‘The idea for writing this Sequence came to me when I attended a sequence recorded for the BBC by the Third Eton Choral Course in the summer of 1989. I devised a sequence for Ascension-tide in which the different choral forms and solo organ pieces give it musical variety within the intrinsic unity of a single composer’s work.

The Provost and Fellows of Eton College commissioned it for part of the celebrations marking Eton’s 550th anniversary; it was first performed on 18th May 1990 and subsequently broadcast by the BBC on 26th May.’

Francis Grier was educated as a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, as a music scholar at Eton College, and as organ scholar at King’s College, Cambridge. On leaving Cambridge, he became assistant organist to Simon Preston at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and succeeded him as Organist and Tutor of Music in 1981, at the age of 25.

In 1985 he resigned his appointments in order to explore options that are unavailable to full-time musicians: he studied music, meditation and theology in India, and then worked with mentally-handicapped persons in London and Bangalore. Since 1989 he has been based in England again, and now composes and performs, as well as working in the area of mental health.