Torke: Unconquered

Description

Composer Michael Torke writes of his four-movement symphonic tone poem Unconquered: ...the battles won at Saratoga were the turning point of the Revolutionary War, when, after General Burgoyne surrendered his British army, France entered the war, and her support was crucial to the eventual victory, establishing our independence... The title speaks of Saratoga s victory- an invictus - a resolve to stand strong. Summon, the first movement, is a muster; the call to assemble the forces. Dawn speaks of when battles are often initiated, the time of day is dewy and fresh, when an attack would be a surprise. Advance is like a symphony s Scherzo movement, three minutes of energy moving forward. And Liberty is the result of the triumph of the Continental Army; freedom from British tyranny and rule. There are no battle scenes depicted in this score, only an expression of the moods conjured by these themes.