Simpson, Robert (1921-1997)

[Beef Oven!]

Tenth! Even I know the Ninth begins quietly.

Oh dear, I was thinking tenth .....

[bluestateprommer]

Since today marks the 100th anniversary for Robert Simpson, links to two on-line articles:
1. Short, from Alex Ross
2. Long, from Christoph Schlüren (in German, no less, so brush up your Google Translator)

[Serial_Apologist]

Since today marks the 100th anniversary for Robert Simpson, links to two on-line articles:
1. Short, from Alex Ross
2. Long, from Christoph Schlüren (in German, no less, so brush up your Google Translator)

Simpson's not a favourite composer of mine, nevertheless as a symphonist who may have foreseen the direction Nielsen might have taken, and composer of chamber music of great substance, he was I think a major figure - and not just in English music, and I'm saddened that he is not being commemorated today. That article in German looks interesting, if only I knew the language!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Simpson's not a favourite composer of mine, nevertheless as a symphonist who may have foreseen the direction Nielsen might have taken, and composer of chamber music of great substance, he was I think a major figure - and not just in English music, and I'm saddened that he is not being commemorated today. That article in German looks interesting, if only I knew the language!

In a you could have knocked me down with a feather moment on Essential Classics this morning he was mentioned and this was played


Robert Simpson
String Quartet No. 8 - II. Molto vivace 'Eretmapodites gilletti'
Ensemble: Delme String Quartet.
HYPERION.

[CallMePaul]

Hyperion could reissue their recordings as complete symphonies and complete quartets, although I note that most of these are still in the catalogue. I have the original vinyl LP of quartets 7 and 8 but have not played it for some time.

[DublinJimbo]

Hyperion could reissue their recordings as complete symphonies and complete quartets, although I note that most of these are still in the catalogue. I have the original vinyl LP of quartets 7 and 8 but have not played it for some time.

Hyperion already issued the symphonies as a complete set.

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDS44191/7

[Edgy 2]

Hyperion already issued the symphonies as a complete set.
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/d...c=D_CDS44191/7

I've had this box for many years, it's wonderful.

[Richard Barrett]

Excuse me if I've said this here before. I would very much like to enjoy Simpson's work but I just can't find my way into it. I've probably listened to all his symphonies once and couldn't find anything to connect with. So this might be the moment when someone here says something that makes me think yes! that's what I've been missing! Any takers?

[Roslynmuse]

Excuse me if I've said this here before. I would very much like to enjoy Simpson's work but I just can't find my way into it. I've probably listened to all his symphonies once and couldn't find anything to connect with. So this might be the moment when someone here says something that makes me think yes! that's what I've been missing! Any takers?

I have a similar difficulty. I heard the 5th Symphony way back in the 1980s (an off-air recording that a very enthusiastic friend played for me) and in that moment I was deeply impressed but that didn't survive future listenings, and I can't remember what it was that I responded to - maybe the sheer energy of the music? What can sound like energy one day may sound artificially worked up the next, though. The processes at the start of No 6 interested me, but I never found enough to keep me hooked for the rest of the piece - similar story with No 9. I'm just about to listen to No 7 which I have just found on YouTube. Somewhere on the groaning shelves I have all the Hyperion CDs so maybe I'll persevere with this anniversary in mind.

[Pulcinella]

I've had this box for many years, it's wonderful.

I too have the box set, but can't say that any of the symphonies grabbed my attention, either.
Tell us where to start, Edgy.

[Roslynmuse]

Just back from listening to No 7, and I got more from it this time round than I remembered from previous hearings. There is something about the rhythmic energy of the music that propels it along - no doubt the notes themselves do as well, but I'm more aware of the rhythmic drive than anything else. For someone who writes so convincingly about the irresistible pull of tonal centres, I feel more that Simpson works on the micro-, motivic level. I don't have access to a score at the moment so maybe there is a deeper process going on underneath the surface activity.

I think that it is also quite difficult to hear a Simpson 'voice' in there (maybe that will come with repeated hearings, or listening to the symphony cycle whole). I'm more aware of who he sounds like, which is not necessarily very useful - there's quite a lot of Nielsen 5, occasional echoes of Sibelius, some Shostakovich in the angular lower string writing, and - more unexpectedly - a reminiscence of something akin to the Tippett of A Midsummer Marriage in some of the brass writing. What I miss is the ecstasy of Tippett, the danger (or desperation) of Shostakovich, the atmosphere that Nielsen creates and the sheer humanity of Sibelius. And there isn't much sensuality here - it's all very sane. But, as I say, maybe I'll hear more next time; and sometimes the subconscious will work on a piece overnight and give me some insight the next morning that wasn't there before.

[Edgy 2]

I too have the box set, but can't say that any of the symphonies grabbed my attention, either.
Tell us where to start, Edgy.

Well Simpson's most popular and approachable Symphony is apparently his 3rd so that would be the obvious place, it's a marvelous piece.
I'm not musically trained so can't analyse music but I was hooked from the first time I heard Simpson.
Roslymuse mentions the energy and there is plenty of that in these works, they are so exhilarating.

and then there is the amazing String Quartet cycle, no 9 is ingenious and still blows my mind after numerous hearings.

I see there is a centenary new Lyrita release of the 5th and 6th symphonies

[Edgy 2]

Excuse me if I've said this here before. I would very much like to enjoy Simpson's work but I just can't find my way into it. I've probably listened to all his symphonies once and couldn't find anything to connect with. So this might be the moment when someone here says something that makes me think yes! that's what I've been missing! Any takers?

Have you heard Simpson's 9th String Quartet, a huge set of variations on a theme of Haydn ?
I'm not guaranteeing it will convert you but it's absolutely amazing to my ears.

[edashtav]

Rollo Myers reported Maurice Ravel’s advice:

"If you have nothing to say, you cannot do better, until you decide to give up composing for good, than say again what has already been well said.”

[Stanfordian]

I have the new Lyrita album of Symphonies 5 & 6 on CD. I think these are both impressive works. Well worth hearing.