Jericho: Tenor Sax 1
Jericho: Tenor Sax 1 Sheet Music Preview

Jericho: Tenor Sax 1

Arranged by Chris Sharp

Grade: 2

Item: 98-PC-DJE4087_TX1
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Description
The spiritual Joshua Fit de Battle of Jericho gets transported to the '40s big band era using the rhythmic feel and famous ostinato from Benny Goodman's Sing, Sing, Sing. With just a little rehearsal time, this straight-forward arrangement will bring down the house!

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Additional Details
Series: FJH Developing Jazz Ensemble
Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU: 98-PC-DJE4087_TX1

More about this title

About the Arranger: Chris Sharp

Chris Sharp

Chris Sharp holds a Ph.D. and works as a composer, arranger, and orchestrator based in Winter Haven, Florida. His education at the University of Florida and University of Miami shaped a career spanning three decades in professional music; he spent eleven years as a performing trombonist and band leader at Walt Disney World while simultaneously serving as arranger and orchestrator for Disney parks globally, creating music for live shows, recordings, and national broadcasts.

Beyond his extensive work with major entertainment organizations including Universal Studios, Ringling Brothers, and the Boston Pops, Sharp maintains active roles in music education and the adjudication community. He directs the band program at Polk State College, where he teaches theory, technology, and arranging, and has appeared as clinician and guest conductor across the country. His concert and jazz band works have earned multiple ASCAPlus awards and regular performances at prestigious venues like the Midwest Clinic.

Why we love this

Sharp's arrangement smartly anchors a spiritual in the language of 1940s swing, making the familiar accessible without diluting its character. The straightforward chart respects rehearsal realities at Grade 2; you can move quickly through it and spend time on the rhythmic precision and ensemble cohesion that make the style swing rather than plod.

What to expect

Energetic and immediately recognizable, with the spiritual's emotional core animated by the propulsive, rhythmic drive of Goodman-era swing. The ostinato creates a sense of forward momentum that feels lighter and more playful than the hymn's traditional context, though the melody itself keeps the arrangement grounded.

Who it's for

Jazz ensembles at the middle school level or early high school groups building their swing vocabulary. Directors seeking accessible repertoire that works for contest and festival settings while remaining genuinely musical will find this a reliable choice.

How to get the most out of it

  • Lock the rhythm section into the famous Benny Goodman ostinato pattern early in rehearsals; once your bass, drums, and chordal instruments lock, the rest of the ensemble will sit naturally on top of it.
  • Shape the melody with enough dynamic contrast to let the spiritual shine through the swing idiom; understate the arrangement's stylistic wrapper and the tune will sing.
  • Keep the straight-eighth feel honest; jazz shuffle and straight eighths are rhythmically different conversations. Decide which one this chart wants and commit to it.

How to use it

Program this as a festival or contest entry where it can showcase both the ensemble's swing feel and their ability to balance style with substance. It also works well paired with a slower, more traditional spiritual arrangement as a contrasting set, or as an energetic closer that leaves audiences smiling.

Skills your students will build

  • Swing articulation and the rhythmic feel of 1940s big band style
  • Reading and executing a repeated rhythmic ostinato as an ensemble
  • Balancing melody against accompaniment patterns in jazz textures
  • Stylistic phrasing that honors both the spiritual tradition and the swing idiom

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