Links on movements I, II, and IV are for the concert band versions, each of which is a separate piece.
In 1990 I wrote several works for my friend Fred Robinson who was the
composer/arranger at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. Among these was a
work for jazz band, The Popular Music of Planet X in three �Books�. The
idea was the rather whimsical one that somewhere among the myriad planets there
could be a civilization where the prime incentive for the music industry was not
mercenary. Clearly such a planet must be far, far away. I also wrote some
chamber works, including a brass quintet. The Air Force didn�t seem to
appreciate the effort, and the score and parts were returned. (When you bomb
with the Air Force�.you REALLY BOMB!)
In 2004 I wrote new versions of these scores, but still could not find
performance. Thus in 2015 I started over, this time with the PMPX as a
symphony for concert band. The only surviving movement from the old PMPX
was the bulk of Burlesque (then titled Bump and Grind). The first
movement was originally from the now-defunct brass quintet of 1990 and 2004.
The second movement's opening was from the original PMPX, and has a
chamber version for piano and woodwind quintet. The third movement was from the
Clarinet Sextet.
As the piece remained unperformed,
I realized it would be better for orchestra as Symphony No. 1: Popular Music
of Planet X. Orchestral writing is much more to my taste and experience
than band. I first composed a piano quintet version to make various improvements, and to
get the piece performed and recorded. The third movement is new, inspired by a
few bits from the original third movement from 1990. The four movements of the
concert band version of PMPX are available only as separate works; the
three that are included in this quintet are linked above in the list of
movements.
Considering that this is my personal vision of what music
intended for mass consumption would be in a more ideal world, I�ve allowed the
influence of some popular idioms in the first and last movements. However, as all
of my music, this is strictly in the classical tradition, with no
improvisation, and to be treated in the same way as other �serious� art
music�even, and perhaps especially, when it�s intended to be for fun.