The Four Freedoms

By Joseph M. Martin

Commissioned for the 250th birthday of America, this 30-minute work explores the four principals of liberty articulated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in an inspiring speech during World War II. These noble words inspired a quartet of paintings by Norman Rockwell that are among his most treasured works. This composition is a significant gesture bringing the lessons of liberty into the concert hall. From towering crescendos to fragile moments of sacred serenity, the music captures the scope of the poetry, incorporating traditional American melodies and uplifting original material. Brilliant orchestrations by Ed Hogan complete this flourish of freedom in grand style. An important addition to the choral canon!