The symphony was composed in 1992 and scored for full orchestra with 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, E♭ clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, percussion, harp, piano and strings (including 8 first violins, 6 second violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos and 2 double basses).
The symphony has three movements: "Some Are", the David Bowie song on which the second movement was based, was not included on the original release of Low, but was recorded around the Low recording sessions.
The song was later released on the Rykodisc reissue of the album in 1991, as well as the 2008 David Bowie compilation "iSelect".
The first recording of this work was released in 1993 under the title Low Symphony.
It was performed by the Brooklyn Philharmonic orchestra under the batons of Dennis Russell Davies, principal conductor, and Karen Kamensek, assistant conductor.