All Original Works by Spraggins: Copyright © 2007- 2015 Jason A. Spraggins



Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Old Songs from My First Try at a Musical- "Beyond Bethlehem"

Back in 2002, I spent a summer writing a musical for Christmas called "Beyond Bethlehem". It was a two-act show and had over twelve original songs. I have been lucky enough to see it performed (for the first time in 2004). I thought I'd post some videos from that first show.

There are four songs here. "Why Me?" is a song that the character of Mary sings. It deals with her coming to terms with her unexpected and unusual pregnancy. Then, the song "Just a Man" is one that the character Joseph sings. In it, he expresses the emotions that could have come to his mind when he learned of his future wife's situation. The song "Our Night" is actually a song I wrote with Andy Brown for another project when I was in college. I pulled it out, changed it a slight bit, and put it in this show- just so the musical would have a love theme. Lastly, the song "These Hands" is done by the Mary and Joseph characters at the manger.

The musical combined Easter and Christmas themes. It opened and closed at Golgatha just after the execution of Christ. The birth story was told in flashbacks and was staged in front of the Cross. It told the story of how faith can be a positive force and can change people for the better. I grown a lot since then, and might approach the story a bit differently now. However, I do believe that faith in something bigger than ourselves can be a powerful thing and is essential to being truly happy in this difficult world. But that's a subject for another blog.

I was only 22 at the time I started this project, and I was under the influence of the pop/rock Broadway shows I was listening to at the time. Since, my tastes have changed and there are many things I would now do differently. But it was a great learning experience. Steven Whiston, who played Joseph, was fantastic (and still is!). Mia Diamond as Mary did a wonderful job with my fledgling attempts at songwriting. The directing was done by Cara Ward. In any case, I thought I'd add some of these memories to my blog...

-if you want to listen to these videos, you'll need to pause the mp3 player that is providing the lovely opera music (Vide Cor Meum)- you can find it about halfway down the side-bar on your right :)









Tuesday, March 9, 2010

"Don't" by Spraggins and Brown

For the last two weeks, Andy Brown and I have been working on a song called "Don't". He sent me the lyrics by email, and I set it to music. After several emails back and forth, we made some changes to the lyric and the music and had a rough draft within a week. Here is what we have come up with so far. The midi file uses an electric piano and cello sound. I really love the sound of this one. We'll have a video of the vocal up soon.

“Don’t”
Verse 1
You make me question everything I am or thought to be.
And though I know that you are spoken for, taboo to me,
I relish every taste and touch, the very thought of you.
It doesn’t matter that it’s fantasy that I play with you.

What do you want from me?
Why do you encroach on me?
What is it I get from you
that makes me feel the way I do?

Chorus
Don’t linger too near to me.
Don’t disclose your heart to me.
Don’t you know I ache for you?
Don’t you know I dream of you?
Don’t stand close, your touch, it burns.
Don’t pretend that I don’t yearn.
Don’t hold back because of fear.
Don’t mistake. I want you, dear.
Every impulse in me screams…
Don’t.

Verse 2
I hold you at a distance, though I want you by my side,
and childishly degrade myself, when I should run and hide.
Could I be enough for you, solace when the day is through?
Could I be the oath you take and heart that you will never break?

What do you see in me?
Will you revive my heart for me?
When you are wide awake at night,
just know I long to hold you tight.

Bridge
Our lives are not the ones that have to be considered.
Who knows? Our souls might meet again in a life or two.
I’m sad and lonely, but that’s no excuse for sinning.
But say the word, and I will follow you.

(Repeat Chorus)



Lyrics: Andy Brown

Music: Jason Spraggins


*Andy Brown singing "Don't" along with the midi file.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

My Original Music

Hear music I've written in midi form:



(links to song samples are also included with previous postings)