The Battle Of Jericho: SAB Choral Octavo

The piece carries the relentless energy of a spiritual rooted in testimony and triumph. Dickau's arrangement channels that forward motion through all three voices, creating a sense of movement and inevitability that mirrors the biblical narrative without feeling heavy or slow.

Choirs working at the intermediate level or newer singers who benefit from transparent three-part writing. This arrangement serves programs that want to include spirituals with confidence, particularly when fewer ensemble resources are available.

• Lean into the rhythmic vitality of the piece. The march-like momentum of 'Jericho' depends on clean attacks and consistent pulse from all three parts working together.
• Balance the altos carefully, especially when they carry counter-material. They're essential to the harmonic foundation and shouldn't disappear beneath the soprano line.
• Let the text story drive your phrasing. The walls falling demand intensity; shape your phrases around those dramatic moments rather than singing through them.

Pair this with other spirituals or sacred classics to build a thematic concert section exploring faith music across traditions. Its eleven pages and straightforward voicing make it ideal for spring or early fall programming when rehearsal time is still ample.

• Balancing part independence in three-part texture
• Rhythmic precision and synchronized articulation across voices
• Sustaining energy and momentum in spirituals
• Diction clarity in text-driven repertoire
• Dynamic contrast and narrative phrasing