Make your own kind of music

You've gotta make your own kind of music
Sing your own special song
Make your own kind of music
Even if nobody else sings along

This weekend held a lot of music.  Music sung by friends, and special groups.  There was a series of groups at our church for the Solomons Christmas Walk on Saturday evening.  From Gospel piano and sax to string quartet, a duo with vocal and guitar, to a trio of vocal harmonies the songs were unique and beautiful.  The amazing thing was that all of the performers stayed around after their sets and listened intently to a couple that followed. There was a mutual admiration for the variety of styles.  I loved how the string quartet and the Gospel piano/sax truly enjoyed the performance of the other.

After the Walk was done, a few of us went out to eat and picked the local eatery with Karaoke.  Another great time, and the music styles and abilities were all over the map.  The audience was kind and loving of all.  It made me smile.

Today I witnessed a recital with, again, a wide range of talent and musical styles.  From very young to not so much all very good, and they were so much fun to see.  It seemed all were having a great time just sharing their voices and love of music.  This ranged for Broadway show tunes to Italian art songs, and some Christmas Carols.

So you may ask what the point is here?

I think it was captured so well by one of the selections.  "Make your own kind of Music" was sung by Mama Cass back in the day (1969.)  Just the chorus packs a wallop.  Sing your own special song. Even if nobody sings along.  That's what music does.  It inspires. It consoles.  It can lift your spirits.  It can let you lament.  There is a style to suit every taste and every mood.  Music is a microcosm of life, of the world.  This weekend from just a few physical locations, I was jetted away to Italy, Germany.  I went back in time and entered a fantasy kingdom.  The music brought friends closer together as they shared their tunes with a bar.  The music brought strangers together in way other events fail to do.

It was a beautiful and busy weekend.  I hope yours was filled with song and friends too.  I wouldn't trade it for the world. And if you want to be inspired a bit listen to Make Your Own Kind of Music.