Percussion Symphony began life as a commission for the Synergy percussion ensemble. They then thought it would be more interesting as a concerto-style work for four percussion and orchestra, and the ABC kindly adopted the work as a commission for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra featuring Synergy. Although a quartet concerto in intent, the finished work sits more comfortably as an extension of my previous four symphonies, and is thus titled Percussion Symphony (Symphony No. 5).

From the first sketches the work was to be in five movements featuring a heavily rhythmic opening and a Tarantella finale. These two prominent features remain, although the middle three movements (originally slow-fast-slow) have been absorbed into a single extended slow movement with a rapid bridge at its centre.

The work was commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation with financial assistance from the Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council.