In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Traditional African American Spiritual

The song is believed to have been composed by slaves in the first half of the 19th century. Some references suggest that it was copyrighted by Jay Roberts in 1865. In 1882, the song was published in Jubilee Songs by M. G. Slayton and in A Collection of Revival Hymns and Plantation Melodies by Marshall W. Taylor. The first recorded version was by Harrod's Jubilee Singers, on Paramount Records No. 12116 in 1922 by Paul Robeson (1925), Mahalia Jackson (1958), Clara Ward, Laurie London, Hugh Laurie (2011) and Elvis Presley (1960) among many others.

Early published versions include some parts in dialect, such as "fit" for "fought". The lyrics allude to the biblical story of the Battle of Jericho, in which Joshua led the Israelites against Canaan (Joshua 6:15-21) However, like those of many other spirituals, the words may also be alluding to eventual escape from slavery – in the case of this song, "And the walls came tumblin' down." The lively melody and rhythm also provided energy and inspiration. Critic Robert Cummings wrote: "The jaunty, spirited theme hardly sounds like the product of the pre-Civil War era, and would not sound out of place in a ragtime or even jazz musical from the early 20th century. The closing portion of the tune, sung to the words quoted above, is its most memorable portion: the notes plunge emphatically and impart a glorious sense of collapse, of triumph.

Release Date: 1865

Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-14 of 14 items.

Bob Chilcott (Edited by) : Spirituals For Choirs

An exciting collection of 20 specially commissioned SATB arrangements almost all of which are a cappella. The contents reflect the richness and diversity of the spiritual tradition, including many much-loved favourites like "All My Trials". "Joshua fit the Battle of Jericho" and "Steal Away" alongside exquisite discoveries that are less well known. All burst with freshness and invention to provide singers with inspirational, moving and above all enjoyable repertoire. As well as contributing five new pieces, the compiler Bob Chilcott has assembled a top selection of arrangers including Joseph Jennings, JohnWashburn and Steve Barnett. The result is a dazzling array of styles, from the introspective to the estatic (including a stylish gospel-influenced song or two along the way). With a mixture of large and small-scale pieces, there's something here for every choir whatever its forces or level of expertise.

Songlist: All My Trials, Balm in Gilead, By an By, Deep River, Didn't It Rain, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Goin' Home to God, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, I Got A Robe, I Want Jesus To Walk With Me, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, Peter, Go Ring Them Bells, Steal Away, Surely He Died On Calvary, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Wade In The Water, Way Over In Beulah-lan', Were You There?

Jester Hairston : Spirituals 2

Another fine collection from Jester Hairston

Songlist: Live-A-Humble, Oh, Rocka My Soul, Poor Man Lazrus, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Steal Away, What Kind O'Shoes You Gonna Wear, Who'll Be A Witness For My Lord?, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Larry Pugh : Just for the Guys

If you are looking for quality repertoire to promote and nurture your emerging male chorus, then you have found the right place! Heritage Music Press is proud to present a new TB choral collection-yes, never before released titles for two-part male voices - comprised of nine great titles from top-level writers Andre J. Thomas, Ruth Elaine Schram, Victor C. Johnson, Mary Lynn Lightfoot, Becki Slagle Mayo, Greg Gilpin, and Brad Printz. Together, they've provided a remarkably fresh diversity of musical styles and tempi, as well as a well-rounded mix of arrangements and original compositions. The title is "Just for the Guys," and it appears in a new choral collection format that includes reproducible choral parts and an accompaniment CD. At a cost of about $5 per tune for your entire choir, no matter its size ,this collection is both a great value and a great repertoire resource..."Just for the Guys!"

Songlist: I Hear America Singing, Hold Fast Your Dreams!, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Agnus Dei, Tiger! Tiger!, Fly High, You Grand Old Flag, Cantate Deo, The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky, Zum Gali Gali

Mary Lynn Lightfoot : In Concert! For Two-Part Choirs

Best selling repertoire in a practical voicing makes up this economical, pragmatic new collection. The nine selections by leading composers offer a wide spectrum of styles and moods. All are designed to challenge and expand the ability and versatility of the choir, energize singers, and entertain audiences - and at half the cost of separate octavos.

Songlist: Sing for Joy!, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Where Do the Stars Go?, Jubilate Deo, Haru Ga Kita (Spring Has Come), Ja-Da, Sanctus, America, the Free, Inscription of Hope

Mary Lynn Lightfoot (editor) : Singable Solutions for Smaller Choirs

Choirs from smaller schools or with limited budgets are often plagued with music of inferior quality and/or lacking in educational value. Singable Solutions for Smaller Choirs is expressly designed for these situations, or for any SAB choir desiring to sing educationally rewarding music in a variety of styles and encompassing the broad spectrum of music history. The composer/arranger list is a "who's who" of educational choral music today and these titles have all been excellent sellers as individual octavos. Now they are available in this outstanding collection for about half the cost than if purchased separately - a welcome budget stretcher for your music program.

Songlist: Sing For Joy!, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Je Le Vous Dirai! (I'll Tell You What I Know!), Kyrie Eleison, Come in from the Firefly Darkness, I Dream a World, Gloria Canon, The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky, A Festive Alleluia

Amy Appleby : America's All-Time Favorite Songs for God and Country

Nowhere else will you find gathered together into one priceless treasury so many of your favorite American folk songs, patriotic anthems and marches, heart songs, sea chanteys, colonial songs, Civil War songs, hymns, gospel songs, spirituals, Christmas carols, memorial songs, and sacred classics. This comprehensive volume includes over 175 full piano arrangements with complete lyrics and chord symbols, and is illustrated with woodcuts, engravings and drawings throughout. Spiral bound.

Songlist: O Come All Ye Faithful, Joy To The World, Auld Lang Syne, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, I Saw Three Ships, Amazing Grace, Christ The Lord Is Risen Today, O Day Of Rest And Gladness, Coventry Carol, HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, GOOD KING WENCESLAS, BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, HOME ON THE RANGE, RED RIVER VALLEY, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, TELL ME WHY, TAPS, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, BLOW THE MAN DOWN, CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINNY, DANNY BOY, DEEP RIVER, GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION, MARY HAD A BABY, MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN, MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME, NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLE I'VE SEEN, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, STEAL AWAY, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN, and more

Edited by Julius Willams : The Hall Johnson Collection

This massive collection of vocal solos from the works of Hall Johnson displays his understanding of the spiritual genre, the human voice, and the tonal, harmonic colors that permeate the depth of the African-American musical experience. More than 50 songs and classic favorites are featured in this compilation, with two performance CDs for reference and stylistic modeling. A comprehensive and essential volume for every singer's library.

Songlist: Oh, Rise an' Shine, When de Saints Come Marchin' in, Cert'n'y, Lord, My God Is So High, Hallelujah!, In Bright Mansions Above, Doncher Let Nobody Turn You Roun', Run, Sinner, Run!, You Better Min'!, Dere's No Hidin' Place Down Dere, Some o' Dese Days, I Want to Be Ready, De Ol' Ark's a Moverin', Witness, My Lord's a-Writin' All de Time, Go Down Moses, Oh, Mary, Doncher Weep, Lord, I Don't Feel Noways Tired, Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho, I Can't Stay Away, Death's Go'n'ter Lay His Col', Icy Hands on Me, De Blin' Man Stood on de Road an' Cried, Hail! De King of Babylon!, March On!, Hallelujah! King Jesus, Give Me Jesus, Crucifixion, Fi-yer! (Fire!), His Name So Sweet, Honor! Honor!, and more

Joan Frey Boytim : Easy Songs For The Beginning Baritone / Bass

This series was designed to supplement traditional vocal instruction. Each piece is in English and has a limited vocal range as well as a piano accompaniment that is playable by a student pianist. The pieces include art songs, folksongs, humorous songs, and suitable vintage popular songs and are all appropriate for contest solos. The accompanying CD includes professionally-recorded accompaniments.

Songlist: Aura Lee, Beautiful Dreamer, The Erie Canal, Foolish Questions, Funiculi, Funicula, Go Down Moses, I Wish I Was Single Again, If You Were The Only Girl In The World, The Jolly Miller, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, The Lark In The Morn, The Lost Chord, The Minstrel Boy, Mrs. Murphy's Chowder, Out Of My Soul's Great Sadness, Request, Simple Gifts, Smick, Smack, Smuck, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, The Story Of A Tact, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Where Did You Get That Hat?, While Strolling Through The Park One Day, You'll Miss Lots Of Fun When You're Married

Mark Hayes : 10 Spirituals for Solo Voice - Medium High

Award-winning composer, arranger, pianist and recording artist Mark Hayes has crafted a superb anthology of ten traditional spirituals for vocal soloist with piano accompaniment in true art-song style, ideal for school or church singers.

Songlist: Deep River, Go, Tell It on the Mountain, Steal Away To Heaven, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Behold The Star!, My Lord, What a Mornin', The Gospel Of Grace, Give Me Jesus, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Mark Hayes : 10 Spirituals for Solo Voice - Medium Low

Songlist: Deep River, Go, Tell It on the Mountain, Steal Away To Heaven, I Feel The Spirit Moving, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Behold The Star!, My Lord, What a Mornin', The Gospel Of Grace, Give Me Jesus, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Patrick Liebergen : Spirituals for Young Voices

Spirituals for Young Voices is a collection of fifteen spirituals for solo voice and is suitable for both male and female young voices. The included accompaniment CD allows your young singers excellent opportunities to rehearse on their own or use the piano accompaniments in performance situations if needed. All songs in this collection are appropriate for use as recital repertoire or solo, festival, and contest use.

Songlist: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, This Little Light Of Mine, All My Trials, Amen, My Lord, What a Mornin', Wade In The Water, Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, There Is A Balm In Gilead, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, He's Got The Whole World In His Hands, Rock-A-My Soul, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Do, Lord, Remember Me, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel

Various Arrangers : Great Spirituals - High Voice

The newest installment of the popular Portraits in Song series is an exceptional collection of some of the most popular spirituals set by many of finest arrangers of our generation. The solos can be performed in worship or recital. A brief explanation is offered for each of the selections and for the genre as a whole-creating an exceptional resource for worship or recital planning.

Songlist: Carry Me Home, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Give Me Jesus, Go Tell It, Here's One, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Were You There?

Various Arrangers : Great Spirituals - Low Voice

Songlist: Carry Me Home, Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit, Give Me Jesus, Go Tell It, Here's One, Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho, Were You There?

Various Arrangers : American Folksongs & Spirituals

75 songs of American heritage, including: All The Pretty Little Horses - Arkansas Traveler - Aura Lee - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - The Blue Tail Fly - Buffalo Gals (Won't You Come Out Tonight) - Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie - Cotton Eyed Joe - Deep River - Down In The Valley - The Drunken Sailor - Git Along, Little Doggies - Home On The Range - Hush, Little Baby - I've Been Working On The Railroad - Joshua (Fit The Battle Of Jericho) - Never Said A Mumblin' Word - Oh! Susanna - Old Joe Clark - The Red River Valley - She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain - Shenandoah - Simple Gifts - Steal Away - The Streets Of Laredo - Wayfaring Stranger - and many more!

Songlist: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Poor Wayfaring Stranger, The Wabash Cannon Ball, Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door, Soon I Will Be Done (Trouble Of The World), Steal Away (Steal Away To Jesus), This Little Light Of Mine, Simple Gifts, The Lonesome Road, All My Trials, All The Pretty Little Horses, Frankie And Johnny, Deep River, Down In The Valley, Skip To My Lou, Turkey In The Straw, Animal Fair, Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, When The Saints Go Marching In, Arkansas Traveler, Home On The Range, I've Been Working On The Railroad, Yankee Doodle Boy, Aura Lee, Standin' In The Need Of Prayer (Standing In The Need Of Prayer), Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, There Is A Balm In Gilead, The Red River Valley, John Henry, Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me, and more

Individual Folios

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.

Jester Hairston : Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Arranger: Jester Hairston | Composer: Traditional

Stacey V. Gibbs : Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

Stacey brings his own creative magic to this classic spiritual. A driving rhythm coupled with tantalizing harmonies make this male chorus arrangement sound new and captivating. Excellent for concert and festival use, high school through college and community groups as well. Available separately: TTBB, Score (with piano reduction).

Arranger: Stacey V. Gibbs

Kirby Shaw : Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho

This popular setting by Kirby Shaw combines powerful vocal pyramids, contemporary piano accompaniment and compelling harmonies to make this an extremely strong choice for young ensembles. Available: SSA, TTB, 2-Part, 3-Part Mixed. Performance Time: Approx. 2:30.

Arranger: Kirby Shaw