Composed for orchestra, Harvard Fantasy was completed in May 1936. It was first performed June 16, 1936 at the Boston Pops, with the composer conducting. The composer revised and published this work as "A Harvard Festival" on January 6, 1969 (see "A Harvard Festival" listing).
Composer quotes: "While taking graduate courses in German and the Scandinavian languages preparatory to a career teaching languages, I was play in and conducting orchestras part time in and around Boston. One Spring after a performance of the Hasty Pudding Show (note: musicals put on by the Hasty Pudding Club of Harvard) which I had conducted Mr. George Judd, the manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, came up to speak to me. He said he had heard my arrangements played by the Harvard Band at the Stadium football games and asked me to make a symphonic setting of Harvard songs for the 25th reunion of his class and to conduct the number at the class' special night at the Pops. Thus I met Mr. Fiedler, who conducted the concert except for the "Harvard Fantasy", to which he listened offstage. After the concert I went to the librarian's office and found Mr. Fiedler examining my score intently. 'This is very good', he said. 'I'm glad to find someone who has ideas and knows how to orchestrate'. Then he urged me to write more for the Pops concerts, especially original compositions, and promised to perform my music if he thought it suitable."(from a letter written in the fall of 1947)
"I did this piece (i.e. "Harvard Fantasy") and Arthur Fiedler took a look at it backstage and said, 'Anderson! You orchestrate well!' I didn't know if he was accusing me of something or what; that was his blunt, direct manner. But then he said., 'How about doing something for us?' A year or so later, I came back to conduct again, (note: Hasty Pudding Show arrangements) and brought a little piece called 'Jazz Pizzicato' to do as an encore. Fiedler liked it enough to play it for two years - and that's how I got started. (Prime Time, July 1972 - the WGBH-TV, Boston program guide)