Known as The Phoenix, I completed the first draft of my first symphony during the summer of 1960 in Phoenix, Arizona where I lived at the time. The dedication suggests both the location of composition and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra which gave me plenty of experience by allowing my attendance at its rehearsals. A portion of the first movement was performed in 1968 by the orchestra at Kansas State College where I taught, though by then the work had been seriously revised several times. Over the years since, I have tinkered with various sections now and then and eventually completed the work in 2008. This latter form represents the score here with many sections included from earlier attempts.