Robert Simpson: Chamber Music, Vol. 1

by Simpson / Housman / Mills / Tippett Quartet

Overview

This release may be of most interest to listeners already attracted to the music of British composer Robert Simpson (1921-1997); the marketing text announces its chief claim to fame as being that there were "some gaps" in the Simpson chamber music discography that were being plugged by this album and a companion still to come. Simpson is better known for his 11 symphonies and other large-scale works than for chamber music, anyhow. This said, all the pieces here are receiving their world premieres, and Simpson fans should find them characteristic of the composer in interesting ways. Simpson's music was mostly not atonal, but it is rather difficult, relying on contrasts that are unique to the work involved. A good example is the Quintet for clarinet, bass clarinet, and three double basses of 1981. This might seem a uniquely unwieldy combination of instruments, but hear how the work develops out of the strange opening sonority of the three double basses, playing at the top of their ranges and underlaid by clarinet murmurings. The procedure is typical of Simpson, whose music is often quite economically developed out of a single opening gesture. The album opens with a string quartet from Simpson's student years; it is more tonal than the rest of the music but is recognizably the work of the same composer. Even rarer than Simpson's chamber music are Simpson's songs, but there are two here, and the setting of A.E. Housman's Loveliest of Trees adds a unique introduction that puts a basic voice-instrument contrast into this short work. In short, a bit of acquaintance with Simpson might help here. The performances vary, but all show commitment to the music, and a variety of sound environments are reasonably well remastered. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	01/17/2025
Label:	TOCCATA
UPC:	5060113447012

Tracks

1. String Quartet in D major~I. Allegro moderato  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  -  Tippett Quartet
2. String Quartet in D major~II. Adagio non troppo  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  -  Tippett Quartet
3. String Quartet in D major~III. Allegretto grazioso  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  -  Tippett Quartet
4. String Quartet in D major~IV. Presto  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  -  Tippett Quartet
5. Trocknet nicht!  - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  - Eva-Maria Hartmann  - Lorenz Lehmann  - Robert Simpson  - Cornelis Witthoefft
6. The Cherry Tree  -  Alfred Edward Housman  - Eva-Maria Hartmann  - Lorenz Lehmann  - Robert Simpson  - Cornelis Witthoefft
7. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano~Lento molto - Allegro non troppo -  - Emma Johnson  - John Lenehan  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  - Raphael Wallfisch
8. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano~Quarter note = c. 72  - Emma Johnson  - John Lenehan  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  - Raphael Wallfisch
9. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano~Allegro molto e furioso  - Emma Johnson  - John Lenehan  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson  - Raphael Wallfisch
10. Quintet for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Three Double Basses~Adagio tranquillo -  - Levi Andreassen  - Peter Cigleris  - Will Duerden  - Derek Hannigan  - Daniil Margulis  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson
11. Quintet for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Three Double Basses~Allegro -  - Levi Andreassen  - Peter Cigleris  - Will Duerden  - Derek Hannigan  - Daniil Margulis  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson
12. Quintet for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet and Three Double Basses~Adagio  - Levi Andreassen  - Peter Cigleris  - Will Duerden  - Derek Hannigan  - Daniil Margulis  - Michael Ponder  - Robert Simpson

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tippett Quartet   String Quartet
Emma Johnson   Clarinet
Derek Hannigan   Clarinet (Bass)
Raphael Wallfisch   Cello
Peter Cigleris   Clarinet
Cornelis Witthoefft   Piano
Will Duerden   Double Bass
Levi Andreassen   Double Bass
John Lenehan   Piano
Daniil Margulis   Double Bass
Eva-Maria Hartmann   Soprano (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe   Text
Martin Anderson   Executive Producer
Bill Knight   Photography
Peter Musgrave   Cover Photo
Alfred Edward Housman   Text
Matthew Taylor   Liner Notes
Frances Marshall   Photography
Adaq Khan   Editing
Robert Piwko   Photography
David M. Baker   Cover Design
Andrej Grilc   Photography
Robert Simpson   Composer
Michael Ponder   Engineer,Producer
Lorenz Lehmann   Engineer,Producer
Timon Botbol   Photography