This exciting song is a lively treatment of the old Negro spiritual, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.” The author of the words and music of the old tune is unknown. Like many other songs of this origin, it is beloved and has become fundamental in Christian music.
Summarizing the biblical narrative from Joshua 6, the Hebrews are told by God that they are to be given the fortified city of Jericho. They are instructed to march around the city for six days, rather than to attack it directly. On the seventh day, they march around it seven times. Joshua tells the priests to blow their trumpets and shout. When they comply, the thick and heavy walls fall down and the Hebrews take the city.
The band has come to love this particular arrangement done by Tommy Newsom. Thomas Penn Newsom (1929 – 2007) was a longtime saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, for which he later became assistant director. Newsom often served as the band’s conductor and announcer when the other personnel were not available. Newsom was well respected and widely known as an arranger.
“To God be the Glory.”
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