Make Music New York

 Make Music New York Times Two (12/20/25 and 12/21/25)

I suppose I should go in order. Saturday, 12/20 was the 51st Annual Carol Walk hosted and led by members of the West Village Chorale. I've been to most of them. I'm kidding—I've only been participating for the last seven years or so. This year's was the best organized one I've been to. I was in Group 6 (I'm usually in Group 2 or 3), after having gotten turned around in the Village again—hey, I've only lived here 49 years! Anyhoo, our two song leaders were great, balancing crowd favorites with chorister requests. We had several youngsters in our group, so Frosty the Snowman came up right away. Alas, so did All I Want for Christmas Is You, of which most people, including the requestees and me, only knew a few lines. But we soldiered on through Carol of the Bells, Ding Dong Merrily, Jingle Bells, etc. In a contemplative moment, I'll Be Home for Christmas (a request) was followed by White Christmas, because our song leader insisted they must be sung together. Not a bad decision. I bowed out a little early, since it was getting cold and I knew how to get back to the subway! An afternoon well spent.

Make Music New York sponsors two Make Music days—duh! the summer solstice and the winter solstice. Today's had fewer choices than the summer solstice, but I scoped out three—Sound Walk, on the High Line, MichelleKStudio, in Greeley Square, and Bell by Bell, at Astor Place. Sound Walk ended up not happening because the tech that was supposed to link everyone together did not work. Ain't technology grand? I was shunted a block away to hear amateur harmonica players. I lasted about ten minutes. I figured, hey, I'm here, I'll walk the High Line anyway. Nope. Far too cold and windy. 

Greeley Square worked out better, with three (plus one, a young student, maybe six years old) pianists playing an electronic keyboard in an outdoor setting. Not ideal, but better than harmonicas! Even though no program was announced, I recognized The Girl with the Flaxen Hair and Claire de Lune. Possibly Liebestraume, as well. Plus there were some Christmas songs included.

Bell by Bell is a happening that I have done before. We, the audience, are the music makers. Anybody who wants to can pick up a bell. There are differently colored bells. The leaders have differently colored flags. When a flag is raised that matches the color of your bell, you ring it wildly. The tunes are not recognizable, but everybody gets to play along and be a part of making music. And that is what the day is all about.

Will I try it again? We shall see.

ConcertMeister