Dedicated to the composer’s father, the late Major Ralph C. Pearce, the music is a depiction of what the great old hymn, “Soldier, Rouse Thee!” by Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) describes as “fightings within and fears without”. The work came about after a request from Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris for the New York Staff Band’s tour of Great Britain in 2003. The title is taken from the verse of the song:

Hark I hear the warriors shouting;
Now the hosts of hell we’re routing.