In 2009 to early 2010 I wrote Clarinet Sextet for clarinet, string quartet, plus and extra cello. In 2012 I expanded this in a version for clarinet and string orchestra. The chamber version was premiered in February 2012 at Duke University.
          It became clear that two of the movements of this piece were suited for larger forces, and would probably be thereby much improved and far more likely to be heard. I arranged one of the movements, Curious Interlude, for orchestra. When I turned to the second movement, Faster, Higher, Louder, it did not seem well suited for an orchestra, and I put it back on the shelf.
          In 1990, I wrote a large four-movement quasi-symphony for jazz band, Popular Music of Planet X. However over the years, performance by a jazz band proved impossible. In early 2015 I started work on a complete reworking for concert band. Only one of the original 1990 movements survived in recognizable form, which is now the final movement, Bump and Grind. This Faster, Higher, Louder movement from the Clarinet Sextet appeared to be a perfect fit for a third movement, and so I arranged it with considerable expansion and a few extra measures. In November 2023, I replaced this third movement with a new one, and recomposed PMPX for piano quintet and then for orchestra as Symphony No. 1. This Faster, Higher, Louder now is offered only as a separate work for concert band.
           
Performance Notes
          The String Bass part is intended for an acoustic bass, as there are bowed passages. An electric bass may not be used in its stead. If an electronic keyboard is used instead of an acoustic piano, it should have a concert grand piano sound. However, the preference is strongly in favor of a real piano. Accidentals hold through the measure and not beyond. This is a C score with the usual transpositions in the parts. If a conductor requires a transposed score, I will provide one, with considerable grumbling.