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 End Is C Sharp

The End Is C Sharp

Robert Simpson (1921-97)

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Robert Simpson (1921-97), The End Is C Sharp

Donald Macleod explores Robert Simpson’s life after his move to Ireland in 1986.

Donald Macleod explores Robert Simpson's life after his move to Ireland in 1986, a period that was initially very productive. However, illness soon struck him down.

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 the final programme of the week, Donald explores Simpson’s life after his move to Ireland in 1986, a period when he seemed to grow calmer. Initially Simpson’s new surroundings also prompted a torrent of new music. However, illness struck him down and both his quality of life, and his output of work badly suffered as a result.


String Quartet no.13 - IV. Andante
Delme String Quartet

Symphony no.9 (excerpt)
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Vernon Handley (conductor)

Quintet for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and String Trio – I. Adagio tranquillo
Joy Farrall (clarinet), Fiona Cross (bass clarinet)
The Vanbrugh Quartet

Symphony 7 (excerpt)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vernon Handley (conductor)

Vortex
The Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band
James Watson (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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