Composer Michael Torke will be premiering a new piece to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Saratoga Performing Arts Center this August. The piece, titled “Unconquered,” was rehearsed for the first time this week by the Philadelphia Orchestra. In the third part of a series on the creation of the work, Torke tells WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard about his reaction to hearing the piece for the first time.
“I was thrilled in a way that was unexpected for me. Because in this many years of being in the business, I know everything that could go wrong. And of course I was thrilled that there was enough time if there was something wrong with the piece or the orchestration that I would have time to make changes. So imagine my surprise when everything came together so well. That was kind of thrilling. The piece sounded a little different from what I imagined it would."
Michael Torke explained that prior to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s rehearsal of “Unconquered,” he had only heard it in his head and in a computerized MIDI file. He said when the work is performed by an orchestrea, you hear what he calls the “real dimensions of the sound.”
I also asked Torke, now that he’s heard it, if he feels comfortable with the piece. He replied that there are three times to comfortable with a piece of music.
“One is when you first hear it rehearsed. The other is when it is finally premiered and you get an audience reaction and see how you it might kind of live in the world. And I suppose the third one is ultimately is two years, 10 years, 20 years later, how does it kind of fit in with your catalog of works. Is it performed? Is it talked about? Is it forgotten?
“And so this was of course stage one, of hearing it at the rehearsal. And for me, that’s almost the only one that really matters. Because if I hear it, I think things are going along as well as they can go, the intentions I had are being realized, it’s like ‘OK I’ve done my job.’ It will go well at the premiere or it will go…anything will happen at the premiere. I have a feeling it will go well because of the way they’re playing beautifully. And there’s a certain excitement about the piece so I’m sure that it will go well at the premiere. But I don’t need to worry about that anymore because I can kind of feel confident that I’ve done my job and it’s there. It’s a blueprint for all future performances.
“And then that third thing about whether it will kind of live among my catalog of works; that’s so out of control. I cannot even think about that, as much as I’d like to.”
“Unconquered,” which celebrates the history of Saratoga and carries a theme of the American victory of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga, is presented in four separate movements.
The first movement, called “Summons” , is a fanfare that Torke describes as a “call to arms” for the listener.
“Those trumpets right at the beginning play the theme. And it’s marked mezzo-piano. You don’t start real loud, but you start with this expectant mezzo-piano. It was just thrilling! It was just so much better than I thought of that dynamic. And how it builds over the next five phrases, it gets your heart going. You get really excited in a way that no other kind of instrumentation could.”
Torke said he intends his music to translate well to an audience. Philadelphia Orchestra Associate Concertmaster Juliette Kang says “Unconquered” with its movements does just that.
“It’s very pleasing and harmonious to all the ears. It’s also beautifully balanced for all the different sections of the orchestra. It doesn’t really too much on one tambour at any given time. It’s always using all our strengths, anyway, and that’s part of what makes it gratifying to play,” said Kang.
Kang said she believes the future of music lies with our current composers, like Torke.
“And he’s one of the best out there, so this is going to be a great synthesis of new music and our historic institutions, both SPAC and the Philadelphia Orchestra,” said Kang.
The piece is commissioned by familiar names in Saratoga Springs, Charles and Candace Wait. Torke said he was gracious to have the Waits come down to Philadelphia to see the rehearsal.
“And it reminded me of the old times 100 or 150 years ago when you had patrons who were intimately involved in the creation of a new work and be supportive in a way. It seemed very old fashioned in the best sense of the way. Very uncorporate to have the two commissioners come down and show their support, take me out to lunch, have enthusiastic stories that we’re telling over a glass of wine. That made the day really special,” said Torke.
Torke also had kind words for the Philadelphia Orchestra and rehearsal conductor Aram Demirjian, who will turn the baton over to Stéphane Denève for the work’s debut this summer.
Michael Torke’s “Unconquered” performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra during a night also featuring dancers from the New York City Ballet will premiere August 5th at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
