In August of 1996, Gramophone magazine hailed American composer Michael Torke (b. 1961) for writing “some of the most optimistic, joyful and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years.” Two months earlier, the New York Times described Torke as “a master orchestrator whose shimmering timbral palette makes him the Ravel of his generation.”
We hear all of this in Torke’s glistening 1994 overture, Javelin. Described as a “sonic olympiad,” the work was commissioned by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympics in celebration of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season. (The southern metropolis hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics).
Exuberant, unabashedly melodic, and unpretentious, Javelin is a grand celebration of orchestral color and instrumental virtuosity. At moments, it pays spunky, cartoonish tribute to classical motivic development (the transition beginning at 4:50). The drama and severity of Beethoven dissolves into pure Impressionistic color (5:50). Additionally, there are nods to the festive music of film composer John Williams.
In his program note, Michael Torke writes,
I had three goals for this Atlanta Symphony’s anniversary piece: I wanted to use the orchestra as a virtuosic instrument, I wanted to use triads (three-note tonal chords), and I wanted the music to be thematic. I knew I would welcome swifter changes of mood than what is found in my earlier music. What came out (somewhat unexpectedly) was a sense of valor among short flashes and sweeps that reminded me of something in flight: a light spear thrown, perhaps, but not in the sense of a weapon, more in the spirit of a competition. When the word javelin suddenly suggested itself, I couldn’t help but recall the 1970s model of sports car my Dad owned, identified by that name, but I concluded, why not? Even that association isn’t so far off from the general feeling of the piece. Its fast tempo calls for 591 measures to evoke the generally uplifting, sometimes courageous, yet playful spirit.
The premiere recording of Javelin features Yoel Levi and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra:
Recordings
- Torke: Javelin,Yoel Levi, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Amazon
Featured Image: Ancient Greek art featuring javelin throwers, c. 530 B.C.