Battle of Jericho: SAB Choral Octavo
Traditional Spiritual / arr. Mark Hayes
Item: 00-PO-0001915
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
You've heard this famous spiritual before, but wait until you hear it in the skillful hands of Mark Hayes! The piano part offers a fun-filled adventure---challenging, yet doable. The choral parts are so compelling that choir members will beg to sing them again and again. Listeners will be hard pressed to sit quietly in their seats when these walls come a-tumblin' down!
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
12
SKU:
00-PO-0001915
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Hayes
Mark Hayes has composed and arranged over 1,750 works spanning sacred choral music, orchestral literature, piano repertoire, and musical theater. A summa cum laude graduate in Piano Performance from Baylor University (1975), Hayes brings both classical training and prolific creativity to every project. He has conducted world premieres at Lincoln Center and collaborated with institutions ranging from the National Cathedral to St. Paul's Co-educational College in Hong Kong, where he premiered a commissioned work for their centennial celebration in 2015.
Beyond the concert hall, Hayes has contributed significantly to American musical storytelling. He composed the score for the award-winning theatrical production Civil War Voices and orchestrated works for musical theater, including Ross Carter's Madame Buttermilk. His vast catalog reflects a deep engagement with both sacred and secular traditions. In 2010, Baylor University honored him with the Award for Exemplary Leadership in Christian Music, recognizing his sustained influence on choral artistry.
Why we love this
Hayes shapes this spiritual with both wit and musicality, giving the piano part genuine character without overloading your accompanist. The SAB voicing sits comfortably for mixed ensembles while maintaining the energy and drama that makes this story sing—your singers will feel the walls crumble even in rehearsal, and audiences will respond with audible delight.
What to expect
This arrangement pulses with jubilation and narrative drive, balancing reverent storytelling with exuberant celebration. The harmonic language feels contemporary without abandoning the spiritual's roots, creating a performance experience that is simultaneously meditative and energized.
Who it's for
SAB choirs seeking a spiritual arrangement that serves both festive programming and genuine musical substance. Directors working with mixed-voice ensembles of intermediate to early-advanced skill will find the voicing accessible yet satisfying, while accompanists appreciate an inventive piano part that enhances rather than complicates the performance.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the rhythmic momentum gradually from the opening, letting the spiritual's storytelling breathe rather than rushing to the climactic moments.
- Work the SAB parts independently at first so each voice understands its melodic identity, then layer them to discover the arrangement's full harmonic richness.
- Balance the choral texture so the piano's part remains conversational, not buried; Hayes's accompaniment carries musical ideas that deserve to be heard.
- Articulate the text crisply on the walls imagery to make the narrative visual and visceral for listeners.
How to use it
Program this as a cornerstone of a sacred music concert or spiritual-themed service, where its dramatic arc and audience engagement give other repertoire breathing room. It also works powerfully on festival and contest programs, where the combination of accessibility and musical depth appeals to adjudicators and audiences alike.
Skills your students will build
- Singing SAB voicing with clear part independence and blend
- Interpreting spiritual narratives through text expression and dynamic shape
- Listening to and balancing with an active piano accompaniment
- Managing rhythmic precision and ensemble timing across three parts