Javelin was commissioned by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympics in celebration of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's 50th Anniversary Season and was performed at the opening ceremony of the 1994 Olympic Games. Torke describes this work as his "most John Williams-like piece." The overture, eight minutes in duration, begins with a motive orchestrated in the high winds that consists of short syncopated twists and turns that become one of the main ingredients of the work. After a 30-second introduction using this material, a beautiful line evocative of melodies by Tchaikovsky enters in the strings and is supported by tactfully pointed confirmations from the winds and brass. Later, developmental forces focus on short, individual wind solos reminiscent of Beethoven. In fact, much of the piece seems influenced by Beethoven's musical gestures and has the feeling of heroism that is associated with Beethoven's Third Symphony. (This is only natural since Torke is not shy in admitting his view that the best teachers are great composers of the past and that he writes strictly tonal music.) This piece contains more musical ideas than many of Torke's other pieces, which are influenced by minimalism. The way he develops each gesture is quite similar to his use of development in his other works, only in this piece the developments lead into organic transitions into the other more contrasting sections such as an heroic brass chorale.

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