Composer of the Week: Robert Simpson

Original version

BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Migrated podcast image for: Composer Of The Week

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): A Man of Peace

A Man of Peace

Robert Simpson (1921-97)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Robert Simpson (1921-97), A Man of Peace

Donald Macleod examines Robert Simpson’s pacifism and his experiences during World War II.

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 Tuesday’s episode, Donald examines another of Simpson’s moral principles: pacifism, exploring his tribunal to explain his position as a conscientious objector, and his experiences as an air raid warden during World War II – a period when music became even more important for the young composer.


Canzona for Brass 
The Locke Brass Consort
James Stobart (conductor)
		
Symphony no.1 (excerpt)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vernon Handley (conductor)
		
String Quartet no. 10 “for peace” - III. Molto Adagio
The Coull Quartet 
		
Symphony no. 5 – Canone II - Adagio
London Symphony Orchestra 
Andrew Davis (conductor)

Piano Sonata – III. Allegro Vivace
Raymond Clarke (piano) 

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.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Composer of the Week

Robert Simpson (1921-97)

A Man of Peace

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3