CATALOG > ORCHESTRA > JERICHO

JERICHO
​(orchestral version)​
​Finalist, 2013 American Prize

A surround-sound concert story of Joshua 6 with narration
and unorthodox audience participation.
​16 minutes.

3333 - 4431 - no timp, 3 or 6 perc (2 versions) - hp - pno - str, narrator, optional choral parts, audience participation.  
Several extra "performers" surrounding audience twirling whistling tubes. (see below)

"MOST  IMAGINATIVE"
"JERICHO is by far the most imaginative, unusual and successful work I have ever performed in 33 years of conducting.”     ​— Dr. Richard Fischer

A single full score has both the 6-percussionist version and the 3-percussionist version.  The part set includes both percussion sets. (The two percussion sets cannot be intermingled.)

"ASTONISHED"
There was absolute silence for what felt like an eternity. I have never received so many astonished comments following a concert, and I mean that in a good way. People were emotionally moved by the piece. I had numerous requests to perform it again.  —Miles Wurster, Martin Luther College

Also available for band

"ABSOLUTELY  STUNNING"
"JERICHO is absolutely stunning: tremendously effective, with a relentless sense of creative drive, I was grabbed from the first tone and found the work then demands ever-increasing participation from the listener's psyche, in the best possible way."      — Les Marsden, conductor

VIDEO (EXCERPT)
Scroll further down for a complete recording.

Complete Performance by the Lamont Symphony
​Kenneth Cox, narrator; Lawrence Golan, conducting

Related Compositions

Performed by:​
East Texas Baptist University Symphonic Band, Mark Crim, conducing
Abington Symphony Orchestra (PA), John Sall, conducting
Biola University Symphony and Paul Delgado Singers (CA), Marlin Owen, conducting
Yakima Symphony Orchestra (WA), Lawrence Golan, conducting
Windiana Concert Band (IN), Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducting
Riverbend High School Symphonic Band (VA), Aaron Noë, conducting
Lamont Symphony Orchestra (CO), Lawrence Golan, conducting, Kenneth Cox, narrating
University of Portland Wind Symphony (OR), Patrick Murphy, conducting
Martin Luther College Wind Symphony (MN), Miles Wurster, conducing
Wisconsin Lutheran College Concert Band, Terry Treuden, conducing
Concordia Univ. Chicago Wind Symphony, Richard Fischer, conducting
Valparaiso Univ. Chamber Concert Band, Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conducing

Whistling tubes

This piece uses several extra "performers" surrounding the audience twirling whistling tubes. These performers can be guests such as local students, board members, or dignitaries.

The tubes are available from toy stores and online retailers like Amazon.  A Google search for "whistling tubes" should locate them.

Yakima (WA) Symphony performs Ayers' Jericho

Excellent structural analysis of Jericho by Dr. Miles Wurster,
including rehearsal/performance suggestions, at this link, pages 16-33.​