Jericho personifies the Biblical city of Jericho and is inspired by its story, told in Joshua 6:

“…Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in….” (exceprt)

If you are a city with emotions, how does it feel to hear you will be captured, devoted, cursed, redeemed? It was curious to imagine this, to dwell on Jericho’s collapse, and then imagine how the city might feel to know that one part of its city, a part it was sure God would hate, God loved. From this small part, comes the Savior of the world.

Jonathon Roberts: vocals, piano, drum programming 
Emily Clare Zempel: vocals, bassoon
Ariana Rosen: violin
Kevin Gosa: soprano and alto saxophones
Meaghan Burke: cello, backing vocals
James Hall: Trombone

Music, lyrics, and production by Jonathon Roberts

Buy on Bandcamp

Jericho

"I Passed By" is from "Cities", a song cycle personifying biblical cities. It personifies Jerusalem, as described in Ezekiel 16:4-42 and Ezekiel 16:59-63

“…Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!” I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked…” (excerpt)

This was the first piece written for this "Cities" project, many years ago as a piano and vocal solo I used to perform in clubs in NYC. It launched this whole idea of personifying biblical cities. What a startling section of Scripture, of God speaking to Jerusalem as a lover who has betrayed him. Of all of the pieces in this song cycle, this piece has the most lyrics taken straight from the Bible.

My awkward self only halfway pulled off this heavy song in murky dive bars in NYC. I'm so glad it's on this album now, fully realized by Emily and a full ensemble.

Emily Clare Zempel: vocals
Jonathon Roberts: piano, drum programming 
Ariana Rosen: violin
Kevin Gosa: soprano and alto saxophones
Meaghan Burke: cello
James Hall: trombone

Music and production by Jonathon Roberts

I Passed By

"New City" is a response to Revelation 21, 22:1-5:

…Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away… (excerpt)

This beautiful text has the new Jerusalem personified, beautiful and “coming down out of of heaven.” At the same time it’s also told from Adam and Eve’s point of view, remembering the garden and the “tree that had them damned” and feeling the relief of regret being washed away. We look through their eyes and see heaven for the first time; we are baffled and mystified by the big and small things we notice. We see Christ and feel the surrounding beauty of his love and this New City.  

Jonathon Roberts: vocals, piano, drum programming
Emily Clare Zempel: vocals
Ariana Rosen: violin
Kevin Gosa: soprano and alto saxophones
Meaghan Burke: cello
James Hall: trombone

Lyrics by Emily Clare Zempel
Music, additional lyrics, and production by Jonathon Roberts

New City

To write this song I chose to use only my three favorite 8dio instruments: Wrenchenspiel, Basstard, and Misfit Bicycle
I wrote all the music and sang but the lyrics are an old public domain text by Ida L. Reed (1865-1951).

I Cannot Drift Beyond Thy Love

This track is a reprise of the tune "I'm Small". It closes out "Cities", the album personifying biblical cities. It also is a family band jam. It ALSO symbolizes eternal merriment (It plays after the track about the "New City") and muses on the age old musical question, "If a track is slowly faded out, does the music actually play on into infinity?"

Jonathon Roberts: vocals, piano, drum programming
Emily Clare Zempel: vocals
Ariana Rosen: violin
Kevin Gosa: soprano and alto saxophones, vocals
Meaghan Burke: cello, vocals
James Hall: trombone, vocals
Walter and Alvin Roberts: vocals

Music and production by Jonathon Roberts

Cities

Reprise with Long Studio Fade

Audio track for collaboration with visual artist Nicora Gangi and vocalist Emily Clare Zempel:
https://vimeo.com/179701699

Text from Psalm 13 and "Just as I Am" by Charlotte Elliott

for Spark and Echo Arts 
Learn more at SparkandEcho.org/pain-pathway_nicora-gangi-and-jonathon-roberts

Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Will you wforget me forever?
How long will you xhide your face from me?
How long must I take ycounsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
alight up my eyes, lest bI sleep the sleep of death,
lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall frejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Just As I Am

ComposerDad encounters the mysterious Bible while out with his kids at the Tot Park and receives an intense compositional challenge to write a catchy tune based on smallness and the town of Bethlehem. 

The music from this episode is available here: https://jmtroberts.bandcamp.com/album/cities

Episode: 

It's unseasonably warm outside for February in the Northeast. ProfessorMom is out shaping minds, and I am with BuilderBoy and SquishyBaby at the Tot Park.

Suddenly, there's a stiff wind, the grass vanishes and the earth ripples. Right away I know who's about to appear. It's Bible with another intense compositional challenge for me, ComposerDad. 

"Hello, Bible, we meet again," I say, standing tall.

"Hello, ComposerDad, I see you have your little ones with you."

"Yes. I do. I am a composer and a dad." 

Bible knows all about me, but he likes to preface his compositional challenges with certain clues and wit.

"I want cheesy pasta," says BuilderBoy.

"Don't worry, Son, we'll have cheesy pasta when we get home," I say. "Right now, I'm about to receive a new challenge from Bible." 

Suddenly SquishyBaby is climbing on top of a playhouse. I rescue him. BuilderBoy smirks. What's happening? How did he get up there? Never mind, I'll deal with this later. I look back to Bible.

"Your familiarity with smallness, ComposerDad, makes me think of something," says Bible. "Micah 5:2 talks about Bethlehem being 'small'. Though it was small it was called to great things–the greatest of things. I want you to create a catchy tune on smallness, based on Bethlehem. Also you must use a saxophone. Goodbye."

Bible likes to drop verses in my lap in profound ways at surprising moments, and then challenge me to respond to them using my insane musical gifts. 

"No problem, Bible," I say. But Bible is already gone.

"Let's go get that cheesy pasta, Son."

We walk home. It takes forever because home is up a big mountain. After cheesy pasta, I jam with BuilderBoy and we find a hook. A hook is a part of a song that's catchy. Some of my songs have lots of hooks. This one goes like this: Mow mow, ma-ma-na-ma-na-mow-ma-na-MOW. Mow mow, ma-ma-na-ma-na-mow-ma-na-MOW. Perfect.  

I find a saxophone, then I find someone who knows how to play it. I hire more musicians: a violinist, a trombonist, a cellist. We sing together, "We are small, we are small, we're children of the King." We all sing in tune. Being small feels very BIG. 

When I'm done, I name my song for Bible, I'm Small. Then I post it to the WORLD WIDE WEB where everyone can hear it. Then I retire to BuilderBoy's room where I read about the extremely dangerous Island of Sodor. 

I await my next challenge. When and where will Bible appear next? What is he after exactly? What is he trying to say to me? And what were my kids up to at the Tot Park back there? Next time...

ComposerDad Vs. Bible Podcast - Season 1 Ep. 1

Subscribe to podcast on on iTunes, Google Play.
Watch the video on YouTube or www.jonathonroberts.com/composerdad 

ComposerDad, BuilderBoy, and SquishyBaby are hiking a rugged trail behind their house. On their way to Great Snack Rock, BIBLE appears and challenges ComposerDad to create a pop song on a the book of Deuteronomy. With the help of ProfessorMom and others, BIBLE's vision is realized. 




Episode 2: On Our Way to Great Snack Rock

BuilderBoy, SquishyBaby and I are hiking a rugged trail behind our house. It goes up an extremely large mountain. SquishyBaby is strapped to me in a trail–tested frontpack. On my back, emergency supplies, water, and snack rations. Non-venomous red newts are on this trail. If we see one I will pick it up with my bare hands. 

Suddenly, a giant tree falls in our path. I shield BuilderBoy, and hold SquishyBaby tight. “That was a close one,” I say. Then I see a red newt. I reach down to pick it up with my bare hands. When I look up, the tree that fell in our path is gone. BuilderBoy laughs. What’s happening? Before I can figure it out…

There’s a huge rockslide! Massive boulders tumble toward us. We scramble to safety just before disaster strikes. 

“I want a snack” says BuilderBoy.

 “Let’s forge ahead. I want to cross Raging Rapids before we have our snack.” 

“I want my snack now.” says BuilderBoy. 

I feel myself getting frustrated.

No problem. I take a deep breath. I assess the situation. 

“I recognize you are hungry, Son. Take this handful of organic raisins now. After we cross Raging Rapids, we’ll get to Great Snack Rock and have some more.”

We traverse a massive stone slab and two switchbacks before arriving at Raging Rapids. 

Guess who’s also there: BIBLE, with another intense compositional challenge for me, ComposerDad. 

“Hello Bible, we meet again,” I say, standing tall. 

“Hello ComposerDad, I see you and your little ones are about to cross a river.”

“Yes, We are on our way to Great Snack Rock.”                                 

“This reminds me. In Deuteronomy chapter 32, Moses tells the people of Israel to take to heart all of his words, and teach them to their children so when they cross the river into the promised land they will live a long and fulfilling life. I want you to create a song based on this passage, something with a beat, maybe a ukulele. Goodbye.”

I knew Bible wasn’t far away, with all those intense natural disasters earlier. “No problem, Bible” I say. But Bible is already gone. We cross Raging Rapids with no problems. I set the red newt down safely next to Great Snack Rock and I get out the snacks.

After eating organic raisins and cooked sweet potato on Great Snack Rock we head down the mountain via the Emergency Vehicle Access Road. 

Back home ProfessorMom has arrived from teaching voice and speech class at the local university.

"How was class?" I ask.

"My students were having trouble with their consonants, but I taught them my simple approach to the International Phonetic Alphabet, and they improved greatly."

We continue talking about our day and reconnecting emotionally, while we check for ticks. Then we all start to jam. ProfessorMom lays down a simple groove on her ukulele. It sounds great. I play piano. BuilderBoy kicks in with the drums. It’s super loud and resonates across the mountain we live on. The sound brings in other musicians from the neighborhood. They all lay in their parts.

The whole band is rocking and suddenly we have recorded the first pop song ever from the book of Deuteronomy. I call it “Take to Heart” and post it to the World Wide Web. It becomes a big hit and DJs even play it on their podcasts.

Thanks for the challenge Bible, we’ll see you again next time on ComposerDad vs. Bible.

Episode 2: On Our Way to Great Snack Rock

The story of Jonah and the Whale told from the Whale's point of view. 
Watch Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FdtrmSyTpHk

www.jonathonroberts.com/composerdad

The Whale and Jonah

Turn it up, it's the Ghost with the most...

Watch Video: https://youtu.be/cirDvqpAYVI

Acts 2
Artist: Duccio di Buoninsegna (1260-1318)
Music: Jonathon Roberts

Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

Gather ‘round all who live in Jerusalem, 
Listen up carefully, you gotta get used to ‘em
These people aren’t drunk, it’s only nine in the morning

It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

Allow me to  present some historical context
to counteract all your rhetorical nonsense
“In the last days I will pour out my Spirit 
On the young and the old and all who are near it”

That’s called a prophecy, prognostication 
Written in a book for a new generation
We’re living it, been given it
Coming down from the heavenly host

It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

“I will not be shaken
I won’t see decay
I will not reside in the realm of the dead
I’m on the path of life
I’m invincible
Sitting on the throne of the heavenly king.” 
  
We know these words, it’s our old King David
But I tell you confidently, without any uncertainty
That he is dead–Long Gone!
So who’s he talking about? 

Remember the man with the wonders and signs, 
Who healed the sick and gave sight to the blind
Maligned by you and I for no crime
Here’s the thing: We killed the King!
 
What do we do?!

I’m right there with you, I know what you’re feeling
Your heart is reeling, so I’m dealing a healing, 
You're forgiven, so let's start living,
You gotta let it RIDE, he alive, he's alive!! 
Open up the window, feel the wind inside, 
 
It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

It’s the Holy Ghost, He’s alive
It’s the Holy Ghost, feel the wind inside
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

It’s the Holy Ghost, the great victory
It’s the Holy Ghost, the promise upon us
It’s the Holy Ghost, HOLY GHOST!

Holy Ghost

Jonathon Roberts is a composer for games, film, theatre, and ensembles. He created the popular podcast/web series ComposerDad vs. Bible, in which ComposerDad accepts intense compositional challenges from mysterious Bible, while out with kids. He founded the long-standing NYC arts nonprofit Spark and Echo Arts. From Wisconsin, living in Beacon, NY, he used to write music for slot machines, tour the country in an RV as the Apostle Paul, and play in an absurdist comedy band. With his wife, actor Emily Clare Zempel, he collaborates on music and theater projects. He currently is on staff as an audio engineer for scripted podcasts at Gimlet/Spotify.