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Endorsements
Here are some of our endorsements.
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| A Speaker says. . . |
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Ken Medema is the most amazingly talented musician I've ever had the privilege of working with. His ability to summarize a sermon, a testimony, or a discussion with an impromptu song that totally embodies what was said, and to make it sound as if were the final, masterful take in a recording studio, is phenomenal. And following one of his performances on a program is a humbling experience for a speaker. I always felt as if there was nothing I could say that would possibly enhance what he had already sung...
Dr. John Killinger, popular speaker, author, and teacher
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| REVIEW: Florida 50th FUMMWA Convocation |
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Ken Medema Concert
The Florida event has kept Ken Medema busy teaching classes, singing in
worship, leading classes with youth and adults, doing a reading session
of his music, and a full concert to close out the 50th anniversary
banquet celebration on Wednesday night. Somewhere in the middle of all
of that, he eats, sleeps, and prepares.
I've attended three of Ken's concerts and this was the best. In a Medema
concert, he is the only performer. But with skillful use of sound,
technology, and MIDI, it sounds at times like he has a full orchestra on
stage with him. At other times there's just the sound of a solo harp, or
a flute. He can sound like a full rock band with chorus, a string
section, a pipe organ, or a trap set that he plays solely on his own
body. His vocal style runs from the operatic to hard rock to tender
ballad to whimsical folk to sentimental to comic. His range is
tremendous - pitch, volume, and expressive. The mood will change
frequently, from incredibly exultant to quiet and pensive.
Medema is a skilled storyteller. He uses stories about himself and his
past, his shortcomings and his triumphs, obstacles he has faced, and
stories about the many people he has encountered. He also uses stories
to drive home object lessons, cultural observations, theological
teachings, biblical truths, and faith formation. He uses storytelling as
a means of musical expression by soliciting stories from the audience
which he then improvises into a musical rendition of the story. In doing
so he makes use of a wide range of styles, from Sondheim-esque Broadway
music, to hymns, imitative and fugal Baroque forms, pop, jazz, rock, and
classical forms, with improvised texts filled with witty commentary,
text rhyme, and a host of instrumental sounds.
At various times the audience roared with laughter, shouted with
enthusiasm, sat in deep reverence and contemplation, wiped tears from
our eyes, and variously clapped, stomped, swayed, jumped, hugged, and
danced. We danced in our pews, some jitterbugged in the aisle, some
formed a hot salsa line dance in the back, and there was a long conga
line that snaked its way around the sanctuary. And these were not just
the kids and teens, but also adults all the way up to 70 years and
older.
As I listened to yet another of Ken's improvised masterpieces of musical
invention based on someone's spontaneously told story, I shook my head
in amazement and wonder. I said to an organist sitting near me that I
was sure he must have a supply of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic
patterns that he calls upon, although I never caught him reusing any of
these. The organist nodded in approval, and after some thought, I said,
"Of course, that's the same thing that Mozart and Bach did, too," except
that Ken also improvises a text that is deep with meaning, literary
form, rhythm and rhyme.
Ken Medema is truly a genius and great performer. If you have the
opportunity to attend one of his concerts, I encourage you not to miss
it. And take a group from your church of all ages. If you're looking for
an incredibly talented concert performer for an event, contact him
through his Web site,
www.kenmedema.com
Dean McIntyre
Director of Music Resources,
The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003; Nashville TN 37203-0003
Toll free telephone 877-899-2780, ext 7073
Email: music@gbod.org
Website: http://www.umcworship.org
This review is reprinted by permission. Dean McIntyre is the Director of Music Resources for The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He may be contacted by email at music@gbod.org or through the Web site at www.umcworship.org .
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| I Want People to Know Him |
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I wanted to share this web site with all of you. Ken Medema is one of my favorite singers. He is a song writer, singer, and piano player. He is blind. And he is an awesome human being. I had the privilege of meeting him in person when I went to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Ken was playing at the same mission's conference that Jim Wallis was speaking for on campus. (Jim was the leader of the Sojourners' Christian Community in Washington DC where I went to live for a little while.) I was so touched by his songs that I went up to where he and his wife were sitting and asked if I could have breakfast with them the next day! They graciously agreed and I had the most special visit with them. (That was during the height of his fame. I NEVER would have done this if I had known of his popularity in the Christian Music World at the time.)
Years later he was performing for a huge concert. One of my friends had baby-sat for his children when she was a teenager, so she went up to the stage after the performance to say hello. She mentioned that she was with someone who had breakfast with him when he was at Southwestern and he said: "Diana! I'm excited to see you again!" I was amazed that he remembered me - much less my name.
Thirty years later, his music still touches my heart. If you EVER get the opportunity to hear him sing - GO!!!
Diana Chiles
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| Ken did it Again |
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Dear Ken and Staff,
You did it again. You brought our congregation down to their knees in tears as they were moved by your song celebrating my 10th year anniversary at Union UCC, Neffs. We have amazing memories of your time with us in worship last year and listening to your song brought back all of that.
People have told us that they have volunteered for a committee or increased their giving or participation because of your message to START SOMETHING! You have blessed our lives with your amazing gifts.
Pastor Kris Snyder-Samuelson
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| Thankful for the way your music touched our Youth |
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I was a chaperone at the Youthfest and am so thankful for the way your music touched the hearts of our youth who attended. My son has talked of your music constantly since then. We cought 2 CDs and he keeps them in HIS room.
It is sometimes hard to reach high school kids, but you reached our kids in a way I have never seen before.
Keep doing what you are doing. It is wonderful to see your gifts at work.
Kelly Jacobson, Sumner, Iowa
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| Ken's music is never-ending story/techno/and Christian! |
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Nicole and Tim
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| Kids Play get Plenty of Play |
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Hello Mr. Medema,
I so enjoyed your concert and continued entertainment at the Let the River Flow ELCA conference in MSP last week. You are brilliant!
I purchased 4 CD’s and love them all, but particularly your Kids Play CD – let me tell you why.
I listened to it on the 3 hour drive back to La Crosse, WI so I had a chance to pick out my favorites to show my children (Andrea/12, Anthony/8, and Caroline/2). I knew Caroline would love dancing to any of the songs as her little body moves hysterically when any music begins to play. I also knew that Anthony would love it – he is very easy to please and loves new music! But, Andrea is a Middle Schooler and she is not a “kid” and it is beneath her dance in front of the rest of the family let along agree with all of us that she actually likes something “we” like. Anyway, just hours after I had the CD home and in the stereo, the kids latched on to the “Four Little Pigs” song, including Andrea. I was amazed! She even asked that I download it on to her IPOD – THE ENTIRE CD, KEN! SHE WANTED THE ENTIRE CD LOADED ON TO HER IPOD. It was a breakthrough! So I thank you so much for your inspirational song!
An additional note – As I was making dinner, doing the dishes, etc. throughout the evening, the “Four Little Pigs” song was on repeat in the stereo and was listened to 52 times (I was secretly making tally marks after about the first 5 times it was played) and they sang with you each time!
I hope to see you again in concert WITH my family with me!
Blessing to you and your ministry!
Niki Pohnl
Director of Christian Education
English Lutheran Church
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