Simpson, Robert (Wilfred Levick) (b Leamington, 1921; d Tralee, Co. Kerry, 1997). Eng. composer, musicologist, and author. On BBC mus. staff 1951–80. Author of Carl Nielsen, Symphonist (1952), Bruckner and the Symphony (1960), Sibelius and Nielsen (1965), The Essence of Bruckner (1966, rev. 1978), The Beethoven Symphonies (1970), The Proms and Natural Justice (1981). Awarded Nielsen Medal (1956) and Bruckner Medal (1962). Works firmly based in tonality, with Beethoven as model for organic unity. Prin. works:

ORCH.: syms.: No.1 (1951), No.2 (1956), No.3 (1962), No.4 (1972), No.5 (1972), No.6 and No.7 (1977), No.8 (1981), No.9 (1985–7), No.10 (1988), No.11 (1990); vn. conc. (1959); pf. conc. (1967); fl. conc. (1989); vc. conc. (1991); Allegro deciso, str. (1954); Variations on a Theme of Carl Nielsen (1983); Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Bach, str. (1991).INCIDENTAL MUSIC: The Pretenders ( Ibsen) (1965); Samson Agonistes ( Milton) (1974).BRASS BAND: Canzona, brass (1958); Energy, symphonic study (1971); Volcano (1979); The Four Temperaments (1983); Introduction and Allegro on a Bass by Max Reger (1987); Vortex (1989); quintet (1989).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qts.: No.1 (1952), No.2 (1953), No.3 (1954), No.4 (1973), No.5 (1974), No.6 (1975), No.7 (1977), No.8 (1982), No.9 (Variations on a Theme of Haydn) (1982), No.10 (1983), No.11 (1984), No.12 (1987), No.13 (1989), No.14 (1990), No.15 (1991); Variations and Fugue, recorder, str. qt. (1959); trio, cl., vc., pf. (1967); cl. quintet (1968); qt., hn., vn., vc., pf. (1975); quintet, cl., bcl., str. trio (1981); hn. trio (1984); vn. sonata (1984); str. trio (1987); str. quintet (1987); pf. trio (1988–9).CHORAL: Media morte in vita sumus (1975); Tempi, unacc. mixed ch. (1985).PIANO: sonata (1946); Variations and Finale on a Theme of Haydn (1948); 2-pf. sonata (1979); Variations and Finale on a Theme of Beethoven (1990).ORGAN: Eppur si muove (Ricercar e Passacaglia) (1985).