The American Heritage Songs Project
#41 Joshua Fought (Fit) the Battle of Jericho
Sheet Music & Lesson Plan
with additional resources
Sheet Music
d minor
Recommended Key
Lesson Plan
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho - From Movie about Mahalia Jackson
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story. (2022, November 29). Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho (Official Music Video) - Remember Me - The Mahalia Jackson Story. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/CXh5wDOHUNM?si=bp2xq-BXRRZ7_Yb2
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho - From Movie about Mahalia Jackson
Mezzo Streams Acappella. (2024, October 14). Mezzo Streams Acapella - Joshua fit the Battle of Jerico. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/h7fhebIORVQ?si=J56DUCSwBSoM9Yrz
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho - Delta Rhythm Boys. Demonstrates vocal techniques and a really fun bass!
jousis. (2011, April 16). Delta Rhythm Boys - Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/C_V66kIEhUs?si=NySsEFk1yiVFF3Rm
Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho - sung by Mahalia Jackson, with Martin Luther King Jr. discussing Civil Rights. Very Powerful!
Salvation by Grace Through Faith. (2019, March 10). Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/qfaYGvsU3F4?si=JQdKZZm8bHqvmqlM
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale - The Battle of Jericho, with brief introduction by Moses Hogan about is use of vocal diction in his arrangement.
Riddle Films. (2007, December 19). The Nathaniel Dett Chorale - The Battle of Jericho (intro by Moses Hogan). [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ks7fLAwzVxY?si=mENHB6NmWKprWQKC
Links to sites with more information and recordings!
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Joop's Musical Flowers: The ORIGINAL versions of famous songs and songs covered by famous people. [Blog]. Blogspot. https://jopiepopie.blogspot.com/2013/05/joshua-fought-battle-of-jericho-1922.html
"Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho" is a traditional African-American Spiritual, originally sung by, and orally transmitted by enslaved people during the early 19th century. The song was known well in southern states, but 15 years after the civil war, traveling choirs introduced the song to people in northern and western states. One of these traveling choirs was The University Singers of New Orleans, directed by Rev. Dr. W. D. Godman. This choir traveled the country, performed in churches and raised over six thousand (ca. 1879) dollars to benefit the Colored Orphans' Home of Louisiana. Their concerts are reported to have been well attended and very much appreciated. Notice the title, "Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho" in the newspaper articles below.
Atchison Daily Patriot. (1881, December 29). Kansas Avenue M.E. Church. [Newspaper advertisement]. p. 4. Atchison, Kansas. Newspapers.com
The Independent. (1883, March 22). The New Orleans University Singers. [Newspaper article]. p. 3. Wahoo, Nebraska. Newspapers.com