The Robert Simpson Society

String Quartet No. 1 (1952)
String Quartet No. 2 (1953)
String Quartet No. 3 (1954)

Element String Quartet (Ernest Element and Sylvia Cleaver, violins; Dorothy Hemming, viola; Norman Jones, cello)

Recorded: 1953-4
Format: CD ADD (Mono 151)
Label: Pearl (Pavilion Records)
Catalogue No.: GEM 0023
Barcode: 0727031002321
Released: August 1988

Produced from tapes and acetates in the collection of Robert Simpson.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, September 1998)

String Quartet No. 1 (1952)
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)

The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet

Recorded: August 1971
Format: LP
Label: Unicorn
Catalogue No.: UNS234

This LP is no longer available. This performance of the Clarinet Quintet was later released on Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2028 then later again on NMC Ancora NMC D109 (below).

Review by Robert Layton (Gramophone, August 1971)
Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)

String Quartet No. 1 (1952)
String Quartet No. 4 (1973)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: February 1990
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66419
Barcode: 0034571164199
Released: November 1990

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

String Quartet No. 2 (1953)
String Quartet No. 5 (1974)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: October 1989
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66386
Barcode: 0034571163864
Released: July 1990

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, October 1990)

String Quartet No. 3 (1954)
String Quartet No. 6 (1975)
String Trio (1987)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: July 1989
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66376
Barcode: 0034571163765
Released: March 1990

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, July 1990)

String Quartet No. 7 (1977)
String Quartet No. 8 (1982)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and Jeremy Williams, violins; John Underwood, viola; Stephen Orton, cello)

Recorded: November 1983
Format: CD AAD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66117
Barcode: 0034571161174
Released: August 1989

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion. From LP A66117(S).

Review by Arnold Whittall (Gramophone, September 1984)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1990)

String Quartet No. 9 (1982)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: March 1984
Format: CD AAD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66127
Barcode: 0034571161273
Released: October 1989

Subtitled 32 Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Haydn. Audio extracts available at Hyperion. From LP A66127(S).

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1990)

String Quartet No. 10 ‘for peace’ (1983)
String Quartet No. 11 (1984)

The Coull Quartet (Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway, violins; David Curtis, viola; John Todd, cello)

Recorded: June 1986
Format: CD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66225
Barcode: 0034571162256
Released: March 1988

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

String Quartet No. 12 (1987)
String Quintet No. 1 (1987)

The Coull Quartet (Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway, violins; David Curtis, viola; John Todd, cello); Roger Bigley, viola

Recorded: May 1991
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66503
Barcode: 0034571165035
Released: April 1992

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, July 1992)

String Quartet No. 13 (1989)
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)
String Quintet No. 2 (1995)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello); Thea King, clarinet; Christopher van Kampen, cello

Recorded: February 1997
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66905
Barcode: 0034571169057
Released: September 1997

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Martin Anderson
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, October 1997)

String Quartet No. 14 (1990)
String Quartet No. 15 (1991)
Quintet for clarinet, bass clarinet, and string trio (1981)

The Vanbrugh Quartet (Gregory Ellis, violin (Quartets only); Elizabeth Charleson, violin; Simon Aspell, viola; Christopher Marwood, cello); Joy Farrall, clarinet; Fiona Cross, bass clarinet

Recorded: August 1992
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66626
Barcode: 0034571166261
Released: March 1993

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, September 1993)
Review by David Wright (MusicWeb International, July 1999)

String Quartet No. 1 (1952)
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)

The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet

Recorded: August 1971
Format: LP
Label: Unicorn
Catalogue No.: UNS234

This LP is no longer available. This performance of the Clarinet Quintet was later released on Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2028 then later again on NMC Ancora NMC D109 (below).

Review by Robert Layton (Gramophone, August 1971)
Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)

String Quartet No. 3 (1954)
String Quartet No. 6 (1975)
String Trio (1987)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: July 1989
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66376
Barcode: 0034571163765
Released: March 1990

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, July 1990)

String Quartet No. 12 (1987)
String Quintet No. 1 (1987)

The Coull Quartet (Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway, violins; David Curtis, viola; John Todd, cello); Roger Bigley, viola

Recorded: May 1991
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66503
Barcode: 0034571165035
Released: April 1992

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, July 1992)

String Quartet No. 13 (1989)
Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)
String Quintet No. 2 (1995)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello); Thea King, clarinet; Christopher van Kampen, cello

Recorded: February 1997
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66905
Barcode: 0034571169057
Released: September 1997

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Martin Anderson
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, October 1997)

String Quartet No. 14 (1990)
String Quartet No. 15 (1991)
Quintet for clarinet, bass clarinet, and string trio (1981)

The Vanbrugh Quartet (Gregory Ellis, violin (Quartets only); Elizabeth Charleson, violin; Simon Aspell, viola; Christopher Marwood, cello); Joy Farrall, clarinet; Fiona Cross, bass clarinet

Recorded: August 1992
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66626
Barcode: 0034571166261
Released: March 1993

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, September 1993)
Review by David Wright (MusicWeb International, July 1999)

Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)
Symphony No. 3 (1962)

The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet; London Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jascha Horenstein

Recorded: 1971 (Quintet), 1970 (Symphony)
Format: CD ADD
Label: NMC Recordings
Catalogue No.: NMC D109
Barcode: 0675754906023
Released: April 2006

This performance of the Clarinet Quintet was previously released with String Quartet No. 1 played by the Aeolian String Quartet, on Unicorn LP UNS 234. This CD is a re-release of Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2028 on the NMC Ancora series of re-issues.

Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)
Review by Rob Barnett (MusicWeb International, April 2006)

Quartet for horn, violin, cello and piano (1975)
Trio for horn, violin and piano (1984)

Richard Watkins, horn; Pauline Lowbury, violin; Caroline Dearnley, cello; Christopher Green-Armitage, piano

Recorded: December 1993
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66695
Barcode: 0034571166957
Released: June 1994

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1994)

Sonata for violin and piano (1984)
Trio for violin, cello and piano (1988-89)

Pauline Lowbury, violin; Christopher Green-Armitage, piano (Sonata); Ursula Smith, cello; Elizabeth Burley, Piano (Trio)

Recorded: December 1993
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66737
Barcode: 0034571167374
Released: March 1995

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)

Variations and Fugue for recorder and string quartet (1959)

John Turner, recorder; the Camerata Ensemble (Richard Howarth and Julia Hanson, violin; Tom Dunn, viola; Jonathan Price, cello)

Recorded: December 2000
Format: CD DDD
Label: Olympia
Catalogue No.: OCD 710
Released: January 2002

With other pieces for recorder and chamber ensembles by various composers.

Review by Hubert Culot, Colin Scott-Sutherland (MusicWeb International, January 2002)

Sonata for piano (1946)
Variations and Finale on a theme of Haydn (1948)
Michael Tippett, His Mystery (1984)
Variations and Finale on a theme by Beethoven (1990)

Raymond Clarke, piano

Recorded: August 1995
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66827
Barcode: 0034571168272
Released: February 1996

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1996)
Review by Roderick Swanston (Classic CD Magazine, April 1996)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, May 1996)

Eppur si muove, Ricercar e Passacaglia for organ (1985)
Canzona for brass (1958)
Media morte in vita sumus for chorus, brass and timpani (1975)
Tempi, for full mixed voice chorus a capella (1987)

Iain Quinn, organ; Corydon Singers; Corydon Brass Ensemble, conductor Matthew Best

Recorded: 1997-8
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67016
Barcode: 0034571170169
Released: November 1998

Audio extracts available at Hyperion. Texts included.

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1999)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1999)

Energy: symphonic study for brass band (1971)

The G.U.S. (Footwear) Band, conductor Stanley Boddington

Recorded: 1972
Format: LP Stereo
Label: EMI Studio 2
Catalogue No.: TWO379

On The World Champions Play Test Pieces for Brass, with other music for brass band by Vinter, and Berlioz arr. Wright.

Review by Tim Mutum (4barsrest, April 2008)

Canzona for brass (1958)

The Locke Brass Consort, conductor James Stobart

Recorded: 1977
Format: CD ADD
Label: Chandos
Catalogue No.: CHAN6573
Barcode: 0095115657324

With other works by Bliss, Brian, Benjamin, Elgar, Walton, Tippett, Rubbra and Jacob. This CD was previously released as RSA Red Seal LP RL 25081.

Volcano: symphonic study for brass band (1979)

The John Foster Black Dyke Mills Band, conductor Major Peter Parkes

Recorded: 1979
Format: CD ADD
Label: Chandos
Catalogue No.: CHAN4522
Barcode: 0095115452226

Recorded live in the Royal Albert Hall, with other music for brass band by Vinter, Huber, Gregson and Calvert.

Energy: symphonic study for brass band (1971)
Volcano: symphonic study for brass band (1979)
The Four Temperaments (1983)
Introduction and Allegro on a bass by Max Reger (1987)
Vortex, for brass band (1989)

The Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band, conductor James Watson

Recorded: August 1990
Format: CD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66449
Barcode: 0034571164496
Released: May 1991

Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Canzona for brass (1958)

Kensington Symphonic Brass, conductor Russell Keable

Recorded: 6 May 1994
Format: CD
Label: Dunelm Records (Divine Art)
Catalogue No.: DRD0253

Live recording, on Music for Brass and Percussion – 1, with other works by Copland, Britten, Glass, Rubbra, Frescobaldi, Gabrieli, Bliss, grieg, Barber, David. Re-mastered December 2005.

Review by William Kreindler (MusicWeb International, February 2006)

The Four Temperaments (1983)

Kensington Symphonic Brass, conductor Russell Keable

Recorded: 31 March 1995
Format: CD
Label: Dunelm Records (Divine Art)
Catalogue No.: DRD0254

Live recording, on Music for Brass and Percussion – 2, with other works by Arvo Pärt, Gabrieli, Purcell, Mussorgsky, Elgar Howarth.

Review by Tim Perry (MusicWeb International, June 2006)

Energy: symphonic study for brass band (1971)

Williams Fairey Band, conductor James Gourlay

Recorded: February 1997
Format: CD DDD
Label: Chandos
Catalogue No.: CHAN4547
Barcode: 0095115454725

With other music for brass band by Jenkins, Alwyn, Rubbra, Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

Eppur si muove, Ricercar e Passacaglia for organ (1985)
Canzona for brass (1958)
Media morte in vita sumus for chorus, brass and timpani (1975)
Tempi, for full mixed voice chorus a capella (1987)

Iain Quinn, organ; Corydon Singers; Corydon Brass Ensemble, conductor Matthew Best

Recorded: 1997-8
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67016
Barcode: 0034571170169
Released: November 1998

Audio extracts available at Hyperion. Texts included.

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1999)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1999)

Canzona for brass (1958)

Cambridge University Brass Ensemble, conductor Philip Walsh

Recorded: April 2004
Format: CD
Label: Dunelm Records (Divine Art)
Catalogue No.: DRD0226

20th Anniversary Reunion Concert, King's College Chapel, with other works by Janáček, Barber, Grieg, Gabrieli, Alfred Uhl, Hindemith, Richard Strauss.

Symphony No. 1 (1951)

London Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Sir Adrian Boult

Recorded: January 1956
Format: CD
Label: EMI Classics
Catalogue No.: 5757892
Barcode: 0724357578929
Released: November 2002

This CD is a re-release of His Master's Voice BLP 1092, a 1956 33⅓ rpm mono recording that was previously reissued as HMV 20 Series HQM 1010 by EMI in 1966, with Fricker Symphony No. 2. The new CD includes the Fricker symphony along with Orr's Symphony in One Movement.

Review by A.P. (Gramophone, April 1957)
Review by M.M. (Gramophone, March 1966)
Review by Tony Haywood (MusicWeb International, December 2002)

Symphony No. 1 (1951)
Symphony No. 8 (1981)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: July 1996
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66890
Barcode: 0034571168906
Released: November 1996

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)

Symphony No. 2 (1956)
Symphony No. 4 (1972)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: July 1992
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66505
Barcode: 0034571165059
Released: October 1992

Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1992)

Quintet for clarinet and string quartet (1968)
Symphony No. 3 (1962)

The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet; London Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jascha Horenstein

Recorded: 1971 (Quintet), 1970 (Symphony)
Format: CD ADD
Label: NMC Recordings
Catalogue No.: NMC D109
Barcode: 0675754906023
Released: April 2006

This performance of the Clarinet Quintet was previously released with String Quartet No. 1 played by the Aeolian String Quartet, on Unicorn LP UNS 234. This CD is a re-release of Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2028 on the NMC Ancora series of re-issues.

Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)
Review by Rob Barnett (MusicWeb International, April 2006)

Symphony No. 3 (1962)
Symphony No. 5 (1972)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: May 1994
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66728
Barcode: 0034571167282
Released: March 1994

Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)

Symphony No. 6 (1977)
Symphony No. 7 (1977)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: September 1987
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66280
Barcode: 0034571162805
Released: April 1988

Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)

Symphony No. 9 (1985-87)

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: February 1988
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66299
Barcode: 0034571162997

The final track is an illustrated talk on the work by the composer.
Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1988)

Symphony No. 10 (1988)

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley

Recorded: February 1991
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA66510
Barcode: 0034571165103
Released: September 1991

Symphony No. 11 (1990)
Variations on a theme by Nielsen (1983)

City of London Sinfonia, conductor Matthew Taylor

Recorded: December 2003
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67500
Barcode: 0034571175003
Released: August 2004

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by Hubert Culot (MusicWeb International, September 2004)
Review by Arnold Whittall (Gramophone, December 2004)
Interview with Matthew Taylor by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004)
Review by Guy Rickards (Gramophone, 2005)
Review by Paul Ingram (Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005)

Symphony No. 1 (1951)
Symphony No. 2 (1956)
Symphony No. 3 (1962)
Symphony No. 4 (1972)
Symphony No. 5 (1972)
Symphony No. 6 (1977)
Symphony No. 7 (1977)
Symphony No. 8 (1981)
Symphony No. 9 (1985-87)
Symphony No. 10 (1988)
Symphony No. 11 (1990)
Variations on a theme by Nielsen (1983)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley; City of London Sinfonia, conductor Matthew Taylor

Recorded: 1987-2003
Format: Boxed set, 7 CDs
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDS44191/7
Barcode: 0034571141916
Released: October 2006

Interview with Matthew Taylor by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004)
Review by Paul Ingram (Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005)
Review by Rob Barnett (MusicWeb International, September 2006)
Review by Paul James (Paul James' Modern Music Review)
Review by Pliable (On An Overgrown Path, October 2006)

Piano Concerto (1967)

John Ogdon, piano; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Constantin Silverstri

Recorded: 1967
Format: CD ADD
Label: Carlton BBC Radio Classics
Catalogue No.: 15656 91762

With Rawsthorne Piano Concerto No 2, Concerto for Two Pianos.

Review by Keith Potter (BBC Music Magazine)
Review by Andy Jackson

Symphony No. 11 (1990)
Variations on a theme by Nielsen (1983)

City of London Sinfonia, conductor Matthew Taylor

Recorded: December 2003
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67500
Barcode: 0034571175003
Released: August 2004

Audio extracts and sleeve notes (PDF) available at Hyperion.

Review by Hubert Culot (MusicWeb International, September 2004)
Review by Arnold Whittall (Gramophone, December 2004)
Interview with Matthew Taylor by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004)
Review by Guy Rickards (Gramophone, 2005)
Review by Paul Ingram (Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005)

Symphony No. 1 (1951)
Symphony No. 2 (1956)
Symphony No. 3 (1962)
Symphony No. 4 (1972)
Symphony No. 5 (1972)
Symphony No. 6 (1977)
Symphony No. 7 (1977)
Symphony No. 8 (1981)
Symphony No. 9 (1985-87)
Symphony No. 10 (1988)
Symphony No. 11 (1990)
Variations on a theme by Nielsen (1983)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley; City of London Sinfonia, conductor Matthew Taylor

Recorded: 1987-2003
Format: Boxed set, 7 CDs
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDS44191/7
Barcode: 0034571141916
Released: October 2006

Interview with Matthew Taylor by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004)
Review by Paul Ingram (Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005)
Review by Rob Barnett (MusicWeb International, September 2006)
Review by Paul James (Paul James' Modern Music Review)
Review by Pliable (On An Overgrown Path, October 2006)

Eppur si muove, Ricercar e Passacaglia for organ (1985)
Canzona for brass (1958)
Media morte in vita sumus for chorus, brass and timpani (1975)
Tempi, for full mixed voice chorus a capella (1987)

Iain Quinn, organ; Corydon Singers; Corydon Brass Ensemble, conductor Matthew Best

Recorded: 1997-8
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67016
Barcode: 0034571170169
Released: November 1998

Audio extracts available at Hyperion. Texts included.

Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1999)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1999)

Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV1080, Contrapunctus I–XIV (Bach/Simpson) (date unknown)

The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)

Recorded: November 1999
Format: CD DDD
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue No.: CDA67138
Barcode: 0034571171388
Released: September 2000

Robert Simpson's arrangement of the Art of Fugue for string quartet. Audio extracts available at Hyperion.

Review by Paul Shoemaker (MusicWeb International, April 2003)