Robert Wilfred Levick Simpson (2 March 1921– 21 November 1997) was an Englishcomposer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.
He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music (particularly those in the key classical forms: 11 symphonies and 15 string quartets), and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells. Remarkably for a living contemporary composer, a Robert Simpson Society was formed in 1980 by individuals concerned that Simpson's music had been unfairly neglected. The Society aims to bring Simpson's music to a wider public by sponsoring recordings and live performances of his work, by issuing a journal and other publications, and by maintaining an archive of material relating to the composer.
He was the Rough Riders nominee for the Schenley Most Outstanding Player in 1956, Schenley Most Outstanding Canadian Award three times, and was Most Outstanding Canadian runner-up in 1956. Over his career with the Rough Riders, Simpson caught 274 passes for 6,034yards and 65 touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 18 interceptions for 192 return yards and three touchdowns while on punt returns, he had 53 returns for 376 yards (7.1 yard average) and one touchdown. He was the first Rough Riders player to record 1000 receiving yards in a season, doing so in 1956.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Robert Simpson survived the devastating landfall of a hurricane at age six; one of his family members drowned. Simpson graduated with honors from the Corpus Christi high school in 1929. Fascinated by the weather, he went on to get a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from Southwestern University in 1933, and a Master of Science degree in physics from Emory University in 1935. Finding no work as a physicist during the Great Depression, he taught music in Texas high schools.
Early career
On April 16, 1940, he was hired by the United States Weather Bureau. First assigned as a junior observer of meteorology at Brownsville, Texas, he was then temporarily assigned to Swan Island. After the Pearl Harbor attack, he was promoted to forecaster at the New Orleans office. As part of a United States Weather Bureau scholarship, he did graduate work at the University of Chicago in 1943 and 1944. After a stint as a hurricane forecaster in Miami under Grady Norton, he was assigned to help create the Army Air Force weather school in Panama. There he had his first flight into a tropical cyclone. After the war, he persuaded Air Force Hurricane Hunters to allow him to fly along on what he called 'piggy back missions', where he would take scientific observations using the primitive instruments.
Robert Simpson: Symphony No 6 [Groves-LPO] premiere
Robert Simpson: Symphony No 6 [Charles Groves-London Philharmonic Orchestra]. Premiere
published: 01 Jun 2016
Robert Simpson: Cello Concerto (Part 1/2)
This recording is of the premiere of Robert Simpson's Cello Concerto (1991), broadcast by the BBC on June 19, 1992. The performance is by Raphael Wallfisch with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vernon Handley.
This work is presently unavailable in a commercial recording, although it is understood Hyperion intend to release a recording of the Simpson concertos in the future.
An opportunity to hear this presently obscure but very fine addition to the 20th century cello repertoire.
published: 10 Jan 2012
Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (LSO/Horenstein)
Robert Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (1962)
London Symphony Orchestra
cond. Jascha Horenstein
(Studio rec. 1970)
I - First movement (Allegro ma non troppo)
II - 15:14 Second Movement (Adagio - Andante - Allegretto - Allegro - Vivace - Presto - Poco slentando)
published: 11 Nov 2013
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato · Kensington Symphony Orchestra
KSO plays Walton, Shostakovich and Simpson
℗ 2013 Dunelm Records
Released on: 2013-04-01
Conductor: Russell Keable
Orchestra: Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Robert Simpson
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 16 May 2014
Robert Simpson Piano Concerto
Robert SIMPSON (1904-1997)
Piano Concerto (1967)
Largo - Allegro - Vivace - Andante con moto - Allegro con brio
Piers Lane, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth
Live performance at the London Proms, 6 August 1998
Television sound recording, much background noise.
published: 15 Aug 2019
Robert Simpson: Symphony No. 3 - Part 1 of 2 - Groves conducts
Robert Simpson's 3rd Symphony received its Proms premiere in 1967 at the Royal Albert Hall with Charles Groves conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Like many of Simpson's other symphonies, it is a powerful piece and was given an excellent performance under Groves's baton. For that reason it is uploaded here, with the visuals mirroring Simpson's love of astronomy. This is Part 1 of a 2-movement work, with the second movement also uploaded here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEj4nkCto8s
UPDATE: the two movements have now been linked together to form the complete work ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMpB-z_tWo&t=221s
NOTE: This performance has been released in a 2-CD set devoted to Sir Charles Groves at the Proms which includes music by Vaughan Williams, Delius, Walton and Haydn. ...
published: 05 Aug 2013
Robert Simpson: Symphony No 7 [Wright-RLPO] premiere
Robert Simpson: Symphony No 7 [Brian Wright-Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra]. Premiere
This recording is of the premiere of Robert Simpson's Cello Concerto (1991), broadcast by the BBC on June 19, 1992. The performance is by Raphael Wallfisch with...
This recording is of the premiere of Robert Simpson's Cello Concerto (1991), broadcast by the BBC on June 19, 1992. The performance is by Raphael Wallfisch with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vernon Handley.
This work is presently unavailable in a commercial recording, although it is understood Hyperion intend to release a recording of the Simpson concertos in the future.
An opportunity to hear this presently obscure but very fine addition to the 20th century cello repertoire.
This recording is of the premiere of Robert Simpson's Cello Concerto (1991), broadcast by the BBC on June 19, 1992. The performance is by Raphael Wallfisch with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vernon Handley.
This work is presently unavailable in a commercial recording, although it is understood Hyperion intend to release a recording of the Simpson concertos in the future.
An opportunity to hear this presently obscure but very fine addition to the 20th century cello repertoire.
Robert Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (1962)
London Symphony Orchestra
cond. Jascha Horenstein
(Studio rec. 1970)
I - First movement (Allegro ma non troppo)
II - 15:1...
Robert Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (1962)
London Symphony Orchestra
cond. Jascha Horenstein
(Studio rec. 1970)
I - First movement (Allegro ma non troppo)
II - 15:14 Second Movement (Adagio - Andante - Allegretto - Allegro - Vivace - Presto - Poco slentando)
Robert Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (1962)
London Symphony Orchestra
cond. Jascha Horenstein
(Studio rec. 1970)
I - First movement (Allegro ma non troppo)
II - 15:14 Second Movement (Adagio - Andante - Allegretto - Allegro - Vivace - Presto - Poco slentando)
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato · Kensington Symphony Orchestra
KSO plays Walton, Shostakovich and Simpson
℗ 2013...
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato · Kensington Symphony Orchestra
KSO plays Walton, Shostakovich and Simpson
℗ 2013 Dunelm Records
Released on: 2013-04-01
Conductor: Russell Keable
Orchestra: Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Robert Simpson
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato · Kensington Symphony Orchestra
KSO plays Walton, Shostakovich and Simpson
℗ 2013 Dunelm Records
Released on: 2013-04-01
Conductor: Russell Keable
Orchestra: Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Robert Simpson
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Robert SIMPSON (1904-1997)
Piano Concerto (1967)
Largo - Allegro - Vivace - Andante con moto - Allegro con brio
Piers Lane, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry ...
Robert SIMPSON (1904-1997)
Piano Concerto (1967)
Largo - Allegro - Vivace - Andante con moto - Allegro con brio
Piers Lane, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth
Live performance at the London Proms, 6 August 1998
Television sound recording, much background noise.
Robert SIMPSON (1904-1997)
Piano Concerto (1967)
Largo - Allegro - Vivace - Andante con moto - Allegro con brio
Piers Lane, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth
Live performance at the London Proms, 6 August 1998
Television sound recording, much background noise.
Robert Simpson's 3rd Symphony received its Proms premiere in 1967 at the Royal Albert Hall with Charles Groves conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Like many of S...
Robert Simpson's 3rd Symphony received its Proms premiere in 1967 at the Royal Albert Hall with Charles Groves conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Like many of Simpson's other symphonies, it is a powerful piece and was given an excellent performance under Groves's baton. For that reason it is uploaded here, with the visuals mirroring Simpson's love of astronomy. This is Part 1 of a 2-movement work, with the second movement also uploaded here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEj4nkCto8s
UPDATE: the two movements have now been linked together to form the complete work ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMpB-z_tWo&t=221s
NOTE: This performance has been released in a 2-CD set devoted to Sir Charles Groves at the Proms which includes music by Vaughan Williams, Delius, Walton and Haydn. 'CRQ Editions' CRQ CD290-291.
http://crqeditions.co.uk/ ... CDs
https://crqeditions.bandcamp.com/ ... Downloads
The US Premiere, a quite different reading of the work from Ainslee Cox and the Oklahoma City Symphony, is also here on You Tube ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRDGB7XwwLI
Robert Simpson's 3rd Symphony received its Proms premiere in 1967 at the Royal Albert Hall with Charles Groves conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Like many of Simpson's other symphonies, it is a powerful piece and was given an excellent performance under Groves's baton. For that reason it is uploaded here, with the visuals mirroring Simpson's love of astronomy. This is Part 1 of a 2-movement work, with the second movement also uploaded here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEj4nkCto8s
UPDATE: the two movements have now been linked together to form the complete work ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMpB-z_tWo&t=221s
NOTE: This performance has been released in a 2-CD set devoted to Sir Charles Groves at the Proms which includes music by Vaughan Williams, Delius, Walton and Haydn. 'CRQ Editions' CRQ CD290-291.
http://crqeditions.co.uk/ ... CDs
https://crqeditions.bandcamp.com/ ... Downloads
The US Premiere, a quite different reading of the work from Ainslee Cox and the Oklahoma City Symphony, is also here on You Tube ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRDGB7XwwLI
This recording is of the premiere of Robert Simpson's Cello Concerto (1991), broadcast by the BBC on June 19, 1992. The performance is by Raphael Wallfisch with the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vernon Handley.
This work is presently unavailable in a commercial recording, although it is understood Hyperion intend to release a recording of the Simpson concertos in the future.
An opportunity to hear this presently obscure but very fine addition to the 20th century cello repertoire.
Robert Simpson: Symphony no. 3 (1962)
London Symphony Orchestra
cond. Jascha Horenstein
(Studio rec. 1970)
I - First movement (Allegro ma non troppo)
II - 15:14 Second Movement (Adagio - Andante - Allegretto - Allegro - Vivace - Presto - Poco slentando)
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Symphony No. 4: I. Allegro moderato · Kensington Symphony Orchestra
KSO plays Walton, Shostakovich and Simpson
℗ 2013 Dunelm Records
Released on: 2013-04-01
Conductor: Russell Keable
Orchestra: Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Composer: Robert Simpson
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Robert SIMPSON (1904-1997)
Piano Concerto (1967)
Largo - Allegro - Vivace - Andante con moto - Allegro con brio
Piers Lane, piano
BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth
Live performance at the London Proms, 6 August 1998
Television sound recording, much background noise.
Robert Simpson's 3rd Symphony received its Proms premiere in 1967 at the Royal Albert Hall with Charles Groves conducting the Royal Philharmonic. Like many of Simpson's other symphonies, it is a powerful piece and was given an excellent performance under Groves's baton. For that reason it is uploaded here, with the visuals mirroring Simpson's love of astronomy. This is Part 1 of a 2-movement work, with the second movement also uploaded here ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEj4nkCto8s
UPDATE: the two movements have now been linked together to form the complete work ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erMpB-z_tWo&t=221s
NOTE: This performance has been released in a 2-CD set devoted to Sir Charles Groves at the Proms which includes music by Vaughan Williams, Delius, Walton and Haydn. 'CRQ Editions' CRQ CD290-291.
http://crqeditions.co.uk/ ... CDs
https://crqeditions.bandcamp.com/ ... Downloads
The US Premiere, a quite different reading of the work from Ainslee Cox and the Oklahoma City Symphony, is also here on You Tube ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRDGB7XwwLI
Robert Wilfred Levick Simpson (2 March 1921– 21 November 1997) was an Englishcomposer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.
He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music (particularly those in the key classical forms: 11 symphonies and 15 string quartets), and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells. Remarkably for a living contemporary composer, a Robert Simpson Society was formed in 1980 by individuals concerned that Simpson's music had been unfairly neglected. The Society aims to bring Simpson's music to a wider public by sponsoring recordings and live performances of his work, by issuing a journal and other publications, and by maintaining an archive of material relating to the composer.