The Symphony No. 5 of Roger Sessions was commissioned in 1960 and completed in 1964.[1][2][3] It was commissioned by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the first movement only was premiered by them in February 1964[3], the rest not being completed until that December.
It is in three connected movements, with a pause after the first.[2]
It is scored for three flutes, three oboes, four clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, one tuba, timpani, percussion, piano, harp and strings[4].