Robert Simpson

English composer Robert Simpson (1921-1997) is best known for his significant cycles of 11 symphonies and 15 string quartets. Highly self-critical, Simpson discarded several early attempts at symphonic forms before publishing the Symphony No. 1 in 1951; the last symphony appeared in 1990. Simpson was strongly influenced by Bruckner, Carl Nielsen and a champion of once-forgotten British symphonist Havergal Brian; he was a BBC radio host of longstanding and focused his programming on exposing lesser known composers. Simpson was also known for his incisive books on music. Simpson composed 14 of his 15 string quartets after suffering a stroke in 1991.