This is a list of available recordings. Discontinued recordings may sometimes be found online. Other media links are provided where known.
Label: Chandos Records · Divine Art · Dunelm Records · Hyperion · Lyrita · NMC Recordings · Somm · Warner Classics · Discontinued
Work:
Chandos Records
Fanfare – British Music for Symphonic Brass Ensemble
The Locke Brass Consort, James Stobart conductor
With other music for brass band by Bliss, Brian, Benjamin, Elgar, Walton, Tippett, Rubbra and Jacob.
This CD was previously released as RSA Red Seal LP RL 25081.
Recorded: 1977 Released: July 2003
EAN: 0095115657324 Chandos Records CHAN 6573 CD ADD
Brass from the Master – Volume 1
The Williams Fairey Band, James Gourlay conductor
With other music for brass band by Jenkins, Alwyn, Rubbra, Elgar and Vaughan Williams.
Recorded: 15–16 February 1997 Released: August 1997
EAN: 0095115454725 Chandos Records CHAN 4547 CD DDD
Black Dyke Mills Band plays Volcano
The Black Dyke Mills Band, Major Peter Parkes conductor
Recorded live in the Royal Albert Hall, with other music for brass band by Vinter, Huber, Gregson and Calvert.
Recorded: 1979
EAN: 0095115452226 Chandos Records CHAN 4522 CD ADD
Divine Art
Concertos for Flute
Susan Milan, flute; Prague Symphony Orchestra
With other works by Richard Rodney Bennett and Carl Davis. This is not yet released.
Recorded: January 2018
Divine Art DDA 25167 CD DDD
Dunelm Records
Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Kensington Symphonic Brass, Russell Keable conductor
Live recording, with other works by William Walton & Shostakovich
Recorded: 1995
Dunelm Records DRD 0037 CD DDD
Music for Brass and Percussion – 2
Kensington Symphonic Brass, Russell Keable conductor
Live recording, with other works by Arvo Pärt, Gabrieli, Purcell, Mussorgsky, Elgar Howarth.
Recorded: 31 March 1995
Dunelm Records DRD 0254 CD
Review by Tim Perry (MusicWeb International, June 2006)
Malvern Festival Piano Recital
Raymond Clarke, piano
Live recording, Malvern Festival 1993, with Taylor’s 4 Bagatelles and Beethoven’s Op.111 that inspired Simpson to compose for Clarke
Recorded: 5 June 1993
Dunelm Records DRD 0017 CD DDD
Hyperion
Robert Simpson: The Complete Symphonies
- Symphony No. 1
- Symphony No. 2
- Symphony No. 3
- Symphony No. 4
- Symphony No. 5
- Symphony No. 6
- Symphony No. 7
- Symphony No. 8
- Symphony No. 9
- Symphony No. 10
- Symphony No. 11
- Variations on a theme of Carl Nielsen for orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor; City of London Sinfonia, Matthew Taylor conductor
Recorded: 1987-2003 Released: October 2006
EAN: 0034571141916 Hyperion CDS44191-7 Boxed set, 7 CDs
Review 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)
Symphonies Nos 1 & 8
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
Recorded: July 1996 Released: November 1996
EAN: 0034571168906 Hyperion CDA66890 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)
Symphonies Nos 2 & 4
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
Recorded: July 1992 Released: October 1992
EAN: 0034571165059 Hyperion CDA66505 CD DDD
Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1992)
Review by Steve Schwartz (Classical Net, 2003)
Symphonies Nos 3 & 5
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
Recorded: May 1994 Released: March 1994
EAN: 0034571167282 Hyperion CDA66728 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)
Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Symphonies Nos 6 & 7
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
Recorded: September 1987 Released: April 1988
EAN: 0034571162805 Hyperion CDA66280 CD DDD
Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Symphony No 9
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
The final track is an illustrated talk on the work by the composer
Recorded: February 1988
EAN: 0034571162997 Hyperion CDA66299 CD DDD
Review by Karl W. Nehring (The $ensible Sound)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1988)
Symphony No 10
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Vernon Handley conductor
Recorded: February 1991 Released: September 1991
EAN: 0034571165103 Hyperion CDA66510 CD DDD
Symphony No 11 and Variations on a theme by Nielsen
City of London Sinfonia, Matthew Taylor conductor
Recorded: December 2003 Released: August 2004
EAN: 0034571175003 Hyperion CDA67500 CD DDD
Review by Hubert Culot (MusicWeb International, September 2004)
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, Nov/Dec 2004)
Review by Guy Rickards (Gramophone, 2005)
Review by Paul Ingram (Fanfare Magazine, Jan/Feb 2005)
Canzona, Media morte in vita sumu, Tempi and Eppur si muove
- Canzona – for brass
- Eppur si muove – Ricercar e Passacaglia for organ
- Media morte in vita sumus – motet for SATB chorus, brass and timpani
- Tempi – for unaccompanied SATB chorus
Corydon Singers, Corydon Brass Ensemble, Matthew Best conductor; Iain Quinn, organ
Recorded: 1997–8 Released: November 1998
EAN: 0034571170169 Hyperion CDA67016 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1999)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1999)
Music for Brass
- Energy – symphonic study
- Volcano – symphonic study
- The Four Temperaments: Suite
- Introduction and Allegro on a bass by Max Reger
- Vortex – for brass
The Desford Colliery Caterpillar Band, James Watson conductor
Recorded: August 1990 Released: May 1991
EAN: 0034571164496 Hyperion CDA66449 CD
String Quartets Nos 1 & 4
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)
Recorded: February 1990 Released: November 1990
EAN: 0034571164199 Hyperion CDA66419 CD DDD
String Quartets Nos 2 & 5
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)
Recorded: October 1989 Released: July 1990
EAN: 0034571163864 Hyperion CDA66386 CD DDD
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, October 1990)
String Quartets Nos 3 & 6 and String Trio
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)
Recorded: July 1989 Released: March 1990
EAN: 0034571163765 Hyperion CDA66376 CD DDD
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, July 1990)
String Quartets Nos 7 & 8
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and Jeremy Williams, violins; John Underwood, viola; Stephen Orton, cello)
Recorded: November 1983 Released: August 1989
EAN: 0034571161174 Hyperion CDA66117 CD AAD
Review by Arnold Whittall (Gramophone, September 1984)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1990)
String Quartet No 9
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)
Recorded: March 1984 Released: October 1989
EAN: 0034571161273 Hyperion CDA66127 CD AAD
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, February 1990)
String Quartets Nos 10 & 11
The Coull Quartet (Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway, violins; David Curtis, viola; John Todd, cello)
Recorded: June 1986 Released: March 1988
EAN: 0034571162256 Hyperion CDA66225 CD
String Quartet No 12 and String Quintet
The Coull Quartet (Roger Coull and Philip Gallaway, violins; David Curtis, viola; John Todd, cello); Roger Bigley, viola
Recorded: May 1991 Released: April 1992
EAN: 0034571165035 Hyperion CDA66503 CD DDD
Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, July 1992)
String Quartet No 13, String Quintet No 2 and Clarinet Quintet
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 Released: September 1997
EAN: 0034571169057 Hyperion CDA66905 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, October 1997)
String Quartets Nos 14 & 15 and Quintet for clarinets & string trio
The Vanbrugh Quartet (Gregory Ellis & Elizabeth Charleson, violin; Simon Aspell, viola; Christopher Marwood, cello); Joy Farrall, clarinet; Fiona Cross, bass clarinet
Recorded: August 1992 Released: March 1993
EAN: 0034571166261 Hyperion CDA66626 CD DDD
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, July 1993)
Review by David Wright (MusicWeb International, July 1999)
Bach arr. Simpson: Die Kunst der Fuge
The Delmé Quartet (Galina Solodchin and John Trusler, violins; John Underwood, viola; Jonathan Williams, cello)
Robert Simpson’s arrangement of the Art of Fugue for string quartet.
Recorded: November 1999 Released: September 2000
EAN: 0034571171388 Hyperion CDA67138 CD DDD
Review by Paul Shoemaker (MusicWeb International, April 2003)
Horn Trio and Horn Quartet
Richard Watkins, horn; Pauline Lowbury, violin; Caroline Dearnley, cello; Christopher Green-Armitage, piano
Recorded: December 1993 Released: June 1994
EAN: 0034571166957 Hyperion CDA66695 CD DDD
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, December 1994)
Sonata for violin & piano and Trio for violin, cello & piano
The Lowbury Piano Trio (Pauline Lowbury, violin; Ursula Smith, cello; Elizabeth Burley, Piano); Christopher Green-Armitage, piano
Recorded: December 1993 Released: March 1995
EAN: 0034571167374 Hyperion CDA66737 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine)
The Complete Solo Piano Music
- Piano Sonata
- Variations and Finale on a theme of Haydn for piano
- Michael Tippett, his mystery for piano
- Variations and Finale on a theme by Beethoven for piano
Raymond Clarke, piano
Recorded: August 1995 Released: February 1996
EAN: 0034571168272 Hyperion CDA66827 CD DDD
Review by Martin Anderson (Fanfare Magazine, 1996)
Review by Roderick Swanston (Classic CD Magazine, April 1996)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, May 1996)
Lyrita
Robert Simpson: Symphony Nos. 5 & 6
London Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis conductor (Sym. 5); London Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Groves conductor (Sym. 6)
A centenary release of BBC premieres live from the Royal Festival Hall, London
Recorded: May 1973/April 1980 Released: April 2021
EAN: 5020926038920 Lyrita SRCD.389 CD ADD
Review by David McDade (MusicWeb International, March 2021)
Review by Nick Barnard (MusicWeb International, April 2021)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, June 2021)
British Cello Concertos
Raphael Wallfisch, cello; BBC National Orchestra of Wales, William Boughton conductor
With other cello concertos by John Joubert & Christopher Wright
Recorded: December 2013 Released: January 2014
EAN: 5020926034427 Lyrita SRCD.344 CD DDD
Review by Dave Billinge (MusicWeb International, November 2014)
Review by Stephen Greenbank (MusicWeb International, January 2015)
Review by Robert Matthew-Walker (Classical Source, February 2015)
NMC Recordings
Symphony No. 3 and Clarinet Quintet
The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet; London Symphony Orchestra, Jascha Horenstein conductor
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 performance of Symphony No. 3 was previously released on Unicorn LP UNS 262.
This CD is a re-release of Unicorn-Kanchana UKCD2028 on the NMC Ancora series of re-issues.
Recorded: 1970 Released: April 2006
EAN: 0675754906023 NMC Recordings NMCD 109 CD ADD
Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)
Review by Rob Barnett (MusicWeb International, April 2006)
Somm
Allegro Deciso from String Quartet No. 3
Orchestra of St Paul’s, Ben Palmer conductor
With other works by Edward Elgar & Malcolm Arnold
Recorded: March 2014 Released: January 2015
EAN: 0748871014527 Somm SOMMCD 0145 CD DDD
Warner Classics
Sir Adrian Boult: The Complete Conductor
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult conductor
(Simpson’s 1st is on disc 2)
Released: October 2013
EAN: 5099901927023 Warner Classics 0192702 Boxed set 10 CDs ADD
Discontinued
Fricker, Orr, Simpson – Symphonies
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult conductor
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.
Recorded: January 1956 Released: November 2002
EAN: 0724357578929 EMI Classics 5757892 CD
Review by A.P. (Gramophone, April 1957)
Review by M.M. (Gramophone, March 1966)
Review by Tony Haywood (MusicWeb International, December 2002)
Sir Charles Groves at the Proms, 1967
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Groves conductor
CRQ Editions no longer produce CDs and not all CRQ albums are downloadable from their partners Bandcamp.
Recorded: 21 August 1967 Released: March 2017
CRQ Editions CRQ CD290-1 CD
Video: Symphony 3 – RPO/Groves
Rawsthorne and Simpson Piano Concertos
John Ogdon, piano; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Constantin Silverstri conductor
With Rawsthorne Piano Concerto No 2 and Concerto for Two Pianos.
Recorded: 1967 Released: May 1996
EAN: 5015656917621 Carlton Classics 15656 91762 CD ADD
Review by Andy Jackson
Review by Keith Potter (BBC Music Magazine)
Music for Brass and Percussion – 1
Kensington Symphonic Brass, Russell Keable conductor
Live recording, with other works by Copland, Britten, Glass, Rubbra, Frescobaldi, Gabrieli, Bliss, grieg, Barber, David. Re-mastered December 2005.
Recorded: 6 May 1994
Dunelm Records DRD 0253 CD
Review by William Kreindler (MusicWeb International, February 2006)
Cambridge University Brass Ensemble Reunion Concert
Cambridge University Brass Ensemble, Philip Walsh conductor
20th Anniversary Reunion Concert, King's College Chapel, with other works by Janáček, Barber, Grieg, Gabrieli, Alfred Uhl, Hindemith, Richard Strauss.
Recorded: April 2004
Dunelm Records DRD 0226 CD
The World Champions play Test Pieces For Brass
The GUS (Footwear) Band, Stanley Boddington conductor
With other championship music for brass band by Gilbert Vinter and Berlioz (arr. Frank Wright).
Recorded: 1972
EMI Columbia TWO 379 LP Stereo
Video: Energy – GUS/Boddington
Review by Tim Mutum (4barsrest, April 2008)
Robert Simpson – Three String Quartets
The Element Quartet (Ernest Element and Sylvia Cleaver, violins; Dorothy Hemming, viola; Norman Jones, cello)
Produced from tapes and acetates in the collection of Robert Simpson.
Recorded: 1953-4 Released: August 1988
EAN: 0727031002321 Pearl GEM 0023 CD ADD (Mono 151)
Review by David Fanning (Gramophone, September 1998)
String Quartet No. 1 and Clarinet Quintet
The Aeolian String Quartet (Sydney Humphreys and Raymond Keenlyside, violins; Margaret Major, viola; Derek Simpson, cello); Bernard Walton, clarinet
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.
Recorded: 5 August 1970
Unicorn UNS 234 LP
Review by Robert Layton (Gramophone, August 1971)
Review by Stephen Johnson (Gramophone, June 1990)
Music for Recorder and String Quartet
John Turner, recorder; the Camerata Ensemble (Richard Howarth and Julia Hanson, violin; Tom Dunn, viola; Jonathan Price, cello)
With other pieces for recorder and chamber ensembles by various composers.
Recorded: December 2000 Released: February 2002
EAN: 5015524407100 Olympia OCD 710 CD DDD
Review by Hubert Culot & Colin Scott-Sutherland (MusicWeb International, January 2002)