Anderson wrote The Syncopated Clock in 1945. Having been invited by Arthurd Fiedler to guest-conduct the Boston Pops Orchestra, Anderson wanted to introduce a new work. The idea of the title reportedly predated the work: in a few hours he wrote the music, scored it for orchestra and then mailed it to Boston Symphony Hall. Fiedler had the orchestra parts copied from the score. The piece was picked as music for The Late Show, becoming a very familiar tune to most americans. The arrangement requires temple blocks to be used as the sound of the clock which is heard throughout the number, except for a brief section in the middle.
