16 May 2011

Joshua

Legend has it that during the Bronze Age, Joshua led the Israelites to the city of Jericho, which was encased by a wall.  After they marched around in circles for a week, seven priests blew on ram's horns, which caused the city's walls to collapse.  At this point, everybody was massacred, and the remains of the city were burned.  Any man who tried to rebuild Jericho would have his firstborn son murdered.
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho,
And the walls came tumblin' down.

Why this is a story to celebrate, I cannot tell you.
What the meaning of the verb, "fit" in the above spiritual is, I also cannot tell you.
What I can tell you, however, is that according to the splendid radio talkshow "Radiolab," (radiolab.org), it would require 177 decibels of sound to bring down the walls of Jericho, which amounts to a calculated minimum of 407,380 horns.
I thought it had been a while since I did a piano video, so here we have it.

The arrangement is by Mark Hayes.

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