Nicholas Simpson: Fastness Huw Wiggin, Manchester Camerata & Nicholas Simpson

• Nicholas Simpson (b. 1958): He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel):
• 1Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): I. Theme01:07
• 2Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): II. Grandioso02:13
• 3Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): III. Variation II. Andante mesto e rubato02:32
• 4Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): IV. Variation III01:46
• 5Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): V. Variation IV. Siciliana01:26
• 6Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): I. Theme01:21
• 7Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): VII. Variation VI02:09
• 8Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): VIII. Variation VII02:03
• 9Simpson: He Was Despised (Variations on a Theme of Handel): IX. Variation VIII. Allegro corragioso02:59
• Fastness:
• 10Simpson: Fastness19:17
• Bachianas Mancuniensis:
• 11Simpson: Bachianas Mancuniensis: I. Prelude01:43
• 12Simpson: Bachianas Mancuniensis: II. Allemande02:24
• 13Simpson: Bachianas Mancuniensis: III. Courante02:51
• 14Simpson: Bachianas Mancuniensis: IV. Sarabande03:19
• 15Simpson: Bachianas Mancuniensis: V. Gigue02:44
• Little Suite:
• 16Simpson: Little Suite: I. Angelus03:36
• 17Simpson: Little Suite: II. Sorrow05:34
• 18Simpson: Little Suite: III. Home04:07
• Total Runtime01:03:11

Info for Nicholas Simpson: Fastness

"Fastness" is an album of orchestral music by Nicholas Simpson, who read law at Nottingham University, played guitar in rock bands, and then studied composition with John Tavener at Trinity College of Music, where he won the Chappell Prize for composition and the Ricordi Prize for conducting. Simpson practised as a criminal layer in London, but quit to be a professional musician on moving back to Manchester in 1998. His music has been widely played both in the UK and abroad, his output including three symphonies, a piano concerto, chamber music, an oratorio and Quarantine, an opera based on Jim Crace's 1995 Booker-shortlisted novel of the same name.

"He is clearly a skilled composer with a sound knowledge of his craft… The composer gives excellent leadership to the Manchester Camerata, who accordingly slip happily into his musical world. The disc is as well produced as have come to expect from Mike Purton." (British Music Society Journal)

Huw Wiggin, soprano saxophone
Manchester Camerata
Nicholas Simpson, direction

Huw Wiggin
Since winning First Prize and Gold Medal and being named ‘Commonwealth Musician of the Year’ at the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition in 2014, Huw Wiggin has become one of the most popular saxophonists of his generation.

He has performed in venues as far afield as the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing as well as those closer to home such as London’s Wigmore Hall. Other past highlights include appearances at Brighton, Ryedale, Newbury, Ripon and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, as well as a recent concerto on the main stage at Henley Festival. His performance of Milton Babbitt’s Accompanied Recitative was broadcast by BBC Radio 3 on Hear and Now to celebrate the composer’s centenary.

Huw is Professor of Saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has given worldwide masterclasses. He has also been a member of the judging panel for major competitions including the Royal Over-Seas League Annual Music Competition.

In March 2018 Huw featured on BLAKE, The Anniversary Album, conducted and orchestrated by James Sherlock. Other collaborations include working with singer Laura Wright, harpist Oliver Wass and pianist John Lenehan.

Reflections – Huw’s debut disc (with John Lenehan and Oliver Wass) – was released on Orchid Classics in June 2018 to great acclaim in the press, reaching no. 2 in the UK Specialist Classical Chart and no. 6 in the iTunes Classical Chart.

As someone who is passionate about travelling, Huw has given concerts on Cunard ships all over the world. He is a regular performer on Cunard’s flagship ocean liners: Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and the Queen Mary II.

Having studied at Chetham’s School of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music and Hochschule für Musik, Cologne, Huw gained a Master’s Degree with Distinction from the Royal College of Music in 2012, also winning the RCM Concerto Prize.

Huw is a member of the prize-winning Ferio Saxophone Quartet and regularly performs with them in the UK and abroad. The quartet signed with Chandos Records in 2016 and has released four highly successful discs for the label: Flux in July 2017, Revive in November 2018, Evoke in October 2021 with pianist Timothy End, and Revoiced in July 2022 in collaboration with vocal ensemble the Corvus Consort.

Booklet for Nicholas Simpson: Fastness