Symphony No. 4 (Simpson)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 4 by Robert Simpson
was written between 1970 and 1972 and commissioned by the The Hallé
who gave the premiere, conducted by James Loughran
, at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on 6 April 1973.
The symphony was Simpson's largest work to date and uses a reasonably large orchestra
. This was Simpson's first 'orthodox' four movement symphony and is the only one consciously 'classical' in layout. The overall tonality
is E flat, and the work contains many musical references to Ludwig van Beethoven
and Joseph Haydn
.
In this work Simpson began to make use of a characteristic harmonic device that resounds through his later music: he sometimes places chords that are identical in structure a fifth apart, usually in widely-spaced registers, so that the higher chord sounds like harmonics of the lower one.
The first movement of the work, like the last, is continuously developing rather than duplicating classical sonata-forms, and introduces many of the main themes which return in the last movement. The second movement is a big Beethovenian scherzo which uses, in its trio, a literal quotation of the first movement's second subject group from Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 76
and confronts it with a plethora of dissonances which cannot shake it from serenely going about its own business.
The third movement is one of Simpson's most lyrical slow movements, substituted for an original movement in which Simpson was unsatisfied with after the first few performances as he felt it did not convey a level of expression consistent with the rest of the symphony. There is a prominent part for cello solo in its opening pages which is deeply expressive in character.
The last movement continues to develop material from the first and is one of the most frankly optimistic closes to any symphony by the composer.
release which also includes Symphony No. 2
, both performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Vernon Handley
.
and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra and (later broadcast) performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra
under Nicholas Kok in May 2001. This (same) performance was broadcast in 2007 as part of a complete Simpson Symphony cycle over BBC Radio 3.
Robert Simpson (composer)
Robert Simpson was an English composer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music , and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells...
was written between 1970 and 1972 and commissioned by the The Hallé
The Hallé
The Hallé is a symphony orchestra based in Manchester, England. It is the UK's oldest extant symphony orchestra , supports a choir, youth choir and a youth orchestra, and releases its recordings on its own record label, though it has occasionally released recordings on Angel Records and EMI...
who gave the premiere, conducted by James Loughran
James Loughran
James Loughran CBE, DMus., FRNCM, FRSAMD is a Scottish conductor.-Early life:Educated at St Aloysius' College in Glasgow, Loughran conducted at school and afterwards, while studying economics and law...
, at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on 6 April 1973.
The symphony was Simpson's largest work to date and uses a reasonably large orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. This was Simpson's first 'orthodox' four movement symphony and is the only one consciously 'classical' in layout. The overall tonality
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
is E flat, and the work contains many musical references to Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
and Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
.
Movements
The four movements are:- Allegro moderato
- Presto (Scherzo and Trio)
- Andante
- Allegro vivace
In this work Simpson began to make use of a characteristic harmonic device that resounds through his later music: he sometimes places chords that are identical in structure a fifth apart, usually in widely-spaced registers, so that the higher chord sounds like harmonics of the lower one.
The first movement of the work, like the last, is continuously developing rather than duplicating classical sonata-forms, and introduces many of the main themes which return in the last movement. The second movement is a big Beethovenian scherzo which uses, in its trio, a literal quotation of the first movement's second subject group from Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 76
Symphony No. 76 (Haydn)
The Symphony No. 76 in E-flat major is a symphony by Joseph Haydn in 1782.-Early set of symphonies for London:In 1782, almost a decade before Haydn composed the first of his famous London symphonies, he composed a trio of symphonies – 76, 77 and 78 – for a trip to London which fell...
and confronts it with a plethora of dissonances which cannot shake it from serenely going about its own business.
The third movement is one of Simpson's most lyrical slow movements, substituted for an original movement in which Simpson was unsatisfied with after the first few performances as he felt it did not convey a level of expression consistent with the rest of the symphony. There is a prominent part for cello solo in its opening pages which is deeply expressive in character.
The last movement continues to develop material from the first and is one of the most frankly optimistic closes to any symphony by the composer.
Discography
Currently, the only commercially available CD is a Hyperion RecordsHyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
release which also includes Symphony No. 2
Symphony No. 2 (Simpson)
The Symphony No. 2 by Robert Simpson was completed in 1956 and dedicated to Anthony Bernard, conductor of the London Chamber Orchestra, though the first performance was in fact given by the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli in 16 July 1957 at the Cheltenham Festival.This is one of...
, both performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
conducted by Vernon Handley
Vernon Handley
Vernon George "Tod" Handley CBE was a British conductor, known in particular for his support of British composers. He was born of a Welsh father and an Irish mother into a musical family in Enfield, London. He acquired the nickname "Tod" because his feet were turned in at his birth, which his...
.
Recent performances
The work's documented (?) recent performance history is brief, and consists of a 1989 studio recording by Bryden ThomsonBryden Thomson
Bryden Thomson was a Scottish conductor.Bryden Thomson was born in Ayr. He led several British orchestras, including the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra from 1977 to 1985...
and the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra and (later broadcast) performance by the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
under Nicholas Kok in May 2001. This (same) performance was broadcast in 2007 as part of a complete Simpson Symphony cycle over BBC Radio 3.