It's actually Koine with that accent thingee over the "e" - but I have no idea how to make that (I'm not super tech-savvy).
Koine - Common Language, Common People, Extraordinary Message
I am going to borrow from Koine's press-kit description to start this off :
"Koiné is a Greek word that means “common.” They play common instruments and common hymns that many know and enjoy. The only extraordinary thing about Koiné and what they do is the message that they proclaim through the music they play. It’s the same message of the Bible – Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world."
We had the opportunity to see Koine play on 2 different occasions, once at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crete, IL and once at Mt. Lebanon Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI. Uplifting and spectacular both times. As mentioned from their press-kit, Konie plays common hymns and common instruments. By common instruments, this means drums, guitars, vocals, and keyboards, with some additional instruments as necessary. Essentially this is the same as any pop-rock/adult-contemporary style band - except they are playing the music of The Bible. They are a professional and polished band that dresses in a manner respectful for Church and conducts their concerts with the same respect. In addition to the actual music, they also have a simultaneous multi-media presentation which includes some video and some powerpoint style presentations. The lyrics of the songs appear on the screen in pieces, so that the entire audience can follow along. In the background of the lyrics are Christian scenes and some regular scenic photos. Even if you personally are "not a singer", Koine is easy to follow along with and easy to sing along with. There is definitely a feeling of joy when they perform and it fills the venue, be it a Church, a picnic, or a gymnasium. The spirit of God definitely shines through when Koine performs their modern take on classic hymns. All of the hymns are either from common Christian hymnals or passages from The Bible itself. The arrangement are all written by Koine, which adds a fresh take to the standards.
In addition, in many cases, the band will set up a seminar or meet-and-greet at a local school or young person's organization. During this, they play a small concert, and then open up to a Q&A session with the students/kids. They answer any questions, be it about God or about guitars. They take the time to get involved with the kids, and not just stand on stage, and they let the kids hold the various instrument. What an excellent way to spread God's word through the art of music!
A year or two ago they put out a Christmas CD, "Anno Domini", bringing their arrangements to some classic Christian songs. This is available (along with other CDs) on their website www.koinemusic.com.
Merry Christmas and God Bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment