Robert Simpson (1921-97)

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". 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.

Music Featured:

Symphony No 4 (II. Presto) In Media Morte in Vita Sumus Energy (IV. Allegro molto; V. Presto vivo) Symphony No 6 (excerpt) Canzona for Brass Symphony No 1 (excerpt) String Quartet No 10 “for peace” (III. Molto Adagio) Symphony No 5 (Canone II – Adagio) Piano Sonata (III. Allegro Vivace) Allegro Deciso for String Orchestra The Four Temperaments (I. Scherzo (Sanguine); II. Intermezzo Allegro (Phlegmatic)) Symphony No 3 (II. Adagio – Andante – Allegretto) String Quartet No 6 (I. Adagio) Symphony No 8 (II. Scherzo) Michael Tippett, His Mystery Variations on a theme by Carl Nielsen Eppur si muove for organ (Ricercar) String Quartet No 13 (IV. Andante) Symphony No 9 (excerpt) Quintet for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and String Trio (I. Adagio tranquillo) Symphony 7 (excerpt) Vortex

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Robert Simpson (1921-97) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000wkyc

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z