Torched Liberty
1986
Instrumentation
Soprano and Chamber Ensemble
Duration
32'
Scoring
Sop.; Fl./Picc./A.Fl. A.Cl./EbCl./B.Cl. Tpt. 1Perc. Pno. Vln. Vcl.
Theodore Presser
The earliest ideas for Torched Liberty were simultaneously literary and musical. Fragments of historical documents along with poetry of seven American authors form the libretto. The cantata is divided into four sections framed by a prologue and epilogue, depicting events in America's long history of civil rights abuses.
Recording
From the Prelude
From the recorded will of Harvey Milk
On Gertrude Stein Poetry
On Langston Hughes Poetry