Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

"Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" (or alternatively "Joshua Fought de Battle of Jericho") is a well-known African-American spiritual.[1]

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.[2] 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[3] (though some sources suggest 1924). The Online 78 Discography entry for this record credits Jay Roberts as the author. Later recordings include those by Paul Robeson[4] (1925), Mahalia Jackson[4] (1958), Clara Ward, Laurie London, Hugh Laurie (2011) and Elvis Presley (1960) among many others.

In 1930, Marshall Bartholomew created his arrangement of the song.[5]

Composer and conductor Morton Gould used the song as the basis for his 1941 composition for concert band, Jericho Rhapsody.[6][5]

Ralph Flanagan adapted it under the title "Joshua". Ralph Flanagan and His Orchestra recorded the spiritual in New York City on March 1, 1950. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-3724 (in USA)[7] and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog numbers B 9938 and IP 604.

Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961)

Sister Thea Bowman learned the song from her elders and recorded it in 1988 on the stereocassette Songs of My People. In 2020 it was re-released for the 30th anniversary of her death as part of the digital album Songs of My People: The Complete Collection.

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).[1] 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."[8][9] The lively melody and rhythm also provided energy and inspiration.[10] 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."[9]

References
  1. "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes". Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  2. Elvis Presley:original versions of songs he sang, David Neale. Retrieved 5-18-2018
  3. Paramount Race Series Catalogue
  4. Melvyn Bragg (7 April 2011). The Book of Books: The Radical Impact of the King James Bible. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-1-84894-909-6.
  5. Belwin 21st Century Band Method, Level 2: Conductor. Alfred Music Publishing. pp. 394–. ISBN 978-1-4574-4706-8.
  6. The Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music by William H. Rehrig, ed by Paul Bierley. Westerville OH: Integrity Press, 1991, vol. I p. 293
  7. RCA Victor Records in the 20-3500 to 20-3999 series
  8. "Spirituals as a Source of Inspiration and Motivation". The Spirituals Project. 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  9. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho at AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-10-13. Article by Robert Cummings at Allmusic
  10. Sweet Chariot: Spirituals as a Source of Inspiration and Motivation Archived 2007-10-23 at the Wayback Machine
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