Composer of the Week: Robert Simpson

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Robert Simpson (1921-97): The Anti-Pessimist

The Anti-Pessimist

Robert Simpson (1921-97)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Robert Simpson (1921-97), The Anti-Pessimist

Donald Macleod explores Robert Simpson’s upbringing and changing attitude toward religion.

Donald Macleod explores Robert Simpson’s upbringing in the Salvation Army and how his religious beliefs changed in later life, also exploring Simpson’s attitude of anti-pessimism.

Robert Simpson - once described as "Britain's most important composer since Vaughan Williams", and "one of the century's most powerful and original symphonists" - was a man of integrity, a champion of lesser-known composers, and a man who lived his own life by strict principles: pacifism, socialism and what he called "anti-pessimism". Over the course of this week, in Simpson's centenary year, Donald Macleod looks back at the life and work of Robert Simpson - from his childhood in the Salvation Army, to his experiences as a conscientious objector during the Second World War.  He explores Simpson's writings on music and on life, and his time working at the BBC, before his break from the corporation and from this country. Along the way, we'll hear from Simpson's considerable body of work, which included no fewer than 11 Symphonies and 15 String Quartets.

In Monday’s episode, Donald explores Simpson’s upbringing in the Salvation Army and how his religious beliefs changed in later life. We will hear about the composer’s discovery of music huddled around the back of the family wireless, and the development in this fearless child of the attitude of “anti-pessimism”, which would go on to play such an important role in his life.


Symphony no. 4 - II. Presto 
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Vernon Handley (conductor)

In Media Morte in Vita Sumus 
Corydon Singers
Corydon Brass Ensemble
Matthew Best (conductor)

Energy - IV. Allegro molto; V. Presto vivo
The Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band
James Watson (conductor)

Symphony no.6 (excerpt) 
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vernon Handley (conductor)

Producer: Sam Phillips

Composer of the Week: Robert Simpson (1921-97)

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

In Simpson's centenary year, Donald Macleod looks back at the composer's life and work.

In Simpson's centenary year, Donald Macleod looks back at the composer's life and considerable body of work, which included no fewer than 11 symphonies and 15 string quartets.

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Robert Simpson (1921-97)

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