Robert Simpson

Bruckner revised his Third Symphony more than any other: There are three manuscript versions, two published versions from within his lifetime, a separate manuscript of the Adagio, and surviving revision fragments from 1874, 1875, and 1876.

From the iconic groove of his Take Five to the infectious melody he composed in Blue Rondo à la Turk and beyond, Dave Brubeck was an innovative musical figure who left an indelible footprint on the history of jazz. His groundbreaking approach to composition stretched far beyond the barriers of genre, however.

The music of the English composer Matthew Taylor (b. 1964) manages both to honour tradition and pull out some surprises. Clearly in the tradition that leads from Carl Nielsen through Robert Simpson, the works here observe Nielsen’s fondness for dignity of expression, the occasional hint of power tempered by an almost Mendelssohnian lightness of touch – and, here and there, a note of levity: the Sixth Symphony, after all, is dedicated to the memory of Sir Malcolm Arnold. The three concertante works are performed here by musicians whose playing Taylor particularly admires.

New recordings of Beethoven’s Op. 18 string quartets by the Maggini String Quartet. Recorded in March 2020.

The music of the English composer Matthew Taylor (b. 1964) manages both to honour tradition and pull out some surprises. Clearly in the tradition that leads from Carl Nielsen through Robert Simpson, the works here observe Nielsen’s fondness for dignity of expression, the occasional hint of power tempered by an almost Mendelssohnian lightness of touch – and, here and there, a note of levity: the Sixth Symphony, after all, is dedicated to the memory of Sir Malcolm Arnold. The three concertante works are performed here by musicians whose playing Taylor particularly admires.

This new release signals the start of an important new series from SOMM Recordings which will feature the Eight Quartets by Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. This first installation contains Quartets Nos 5 and 8, which have never before been recorded but as this recording proves, deserve to gain their rightful place among the great 20th century quartets. Sir Charles Villiers Stanford invested a great deal of his creative powers into his eight string quartets which are all big-boned intellectual works, yet full of vibrantly appealing melodies, structural invention and variety, and are typical of Stanford.

From the iconic groove of his Take Five to the infectious melody he composed in Blue Rondo à la Turk and beyond, Dave Brubeck was an innovative musical figure who left an indelible footprint on the history of jazz. His groundbreaking approach to composition stretched far beyond the barriers of genre, however.