The Battle of Jericho

Program Note: “The message of ‘Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho’ is one of perseverance, faith, and hope in the face of seemingly impossible odds. The song speaks to the struggles faced by [enslaved] African-Americans, and the determination and resilience needed to overcome those struggles. It also represents the divine intervention that many believed helped them survive and resist their oppressors. The lyrics of the song encourage believers to keep fighting, even when it seems like there is no hope.” - Old Time Music

Educational Video: Coded messages of African American Spirituals during chattel slavery: https://youtu.be/r4ykd-oiMEE

Arrangement / Melody:
Hear the melody sung by Mahalia Jackson in 1957: https://youtu.be/gPZuWzZvoYQ
Hear the composer discussing the arrangement: https://youtu.be/Ks7fLAwzVxY 

Refrain: heard at measures 3, 13, 27

Syncopation: 
-Sixteenth-Eighth-Sixteenth (ex. ms. 3, 3rd beat)
-Sixteenth tied over the bar; anticipated entrance (ex. ms. 4 into ms. 5)

Texture - Misc. - This piece features, Homophony, Polyphony, and Call and Response!