9 by Robert Simpson was composed between 1985 and 1987 and commissioned by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra who gave the premiere under Vernon Handley at the Poole Arts Centre on 8 April 1987.
The work is in one, vast movement in a three-part form; a chorale-prelude style opening section which goes headlong into a giant scherzo before a slow, fugal third part which is followed by a theme and variations.
The first section then goes headlong into a giant, Beethovenian scherzo that has a genuine sense of propelled, forward motion; a rare occurrence in modern music.
These variations gradually build up in intensity to an enormous climax, which suddenly subsides to leave the note D♯ (which is used as a centre point rather than the tonality of the symphony) hanging in the air.
Following this is a calm, peaceful coda in which the wedge shape is transformed into rising scales which give one the feeling of gazing into the infinite distances of space.