Phil Kline's Unsilent Night

Phil Kline's Unsilent Night A luminous soundscape played by the audience on boomboxes carried through city streets.

“Caroling has never been so epic.”
— FLAVORPILL

“Over the course of 45 minutes, chiming and chants bounce off walls and windows transforming the coldest urban area with the warmth of musical fellowship.” —NPR

“A dreamy fruitcake of parts, tranquil even through its anarchy.” — LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Gorgeously ambient.” —NEW YORK MAGAZINE

“immerses the listener in suspended wonderment, as if time

itself had paused inside a string of jingle bells.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Kline’s luminous, shimmering wash of bell tones is one of the loveliest communal new-music experiences you'll ever encounter, and it's never the same twice.” —TIME OUT NEW YORK

“It's a 44-minute exercise in musical democracy and Christmas cheer. It's a tradition for our times, a modern twist on strolling minstrels and caroling parties.” —BALTIMORE SUN

“If an avant-garde Christmas record exists, this is it.” — STEREOPHILE

“A marvelously fluid, traveling spatial sound sculpture that disintegrates and reforms at nearly every stop light.” — THE VILLAGE VOICE

“A musical pilgrimage” — NEW MUSIC BOX

“A joyous, continuous electronic collage full of wildly pealing bells and chimes, voices, wall-of-sound textures and more, as heard from multiple boomboxes moving through the streets of Greenwich Village.” — LOS ANGELES TIMES

“This is the first necessary classical recording of the 21st century.” — ALL MUSIC GUIDE

01/15/2026
The great writer/author Michael Azerrad wrote an extraordinary substack about Unsilent Night as a “benevolent conspiracy...
01/09/2026

The great writer/author Michael Azerrad wrote an extraordinary substack about Unsilent Night as a “benevolent conspiracy.” Check it out!

"Unsilent Night" is perhaps noted new music composer Phil Kline's greatest hit.

Thank you to all the amazing people, organizations, and cities who embrace this joyous, beautiful tradition and keep it ...
12/29/2025

Thank you to all the amazing people, organizations, and cities who embrace this joyous, beautiful tradition and keep it alive in your towns! And thank you to Phil Kline for composing this piece in the first place, and gifting it to us all! Until next year, Happy Unsilence to all!

Photo by Geralyn Shukwit, from Unsilent Night NYC 2025

Thank you Gothamist! Excerpt:Back in the winter of 1992, composer Phil Kline decided to create his own take on holiday c...
12/20/2025

Thank you Gothamist! Excerpt:

Back in the winter of 1992, composer Phil Kline decided to create his own take on holiday caroling: First, he wrote a 45-minute-long electronic music piece, then he gathered a few dozen friends, provided them with a few dozen boomboxes, and paraded through Greenwich Village playing the piece, titled Unsilent Night.

“In effect,” Kline has been quoted saying, “we became a city-block-long stereo system.”

The concept was a hit and quickly became an annual tradition in New York and beyond — in the more than three decades since, it has drawn thousands of participants across five continents and 175 cities.

NYC’s Unsilent Night was earlier this month, but for those willing to go a bit beyond the boroughs, Kinderhook, New York and Philadelphia’s are on Dec. 20, and Montclair, New Jersey’s is on Dec. 21. For the full schedule, see Unsilent Night’s website.

Four performances soon to rival the Rockettes

really lovely preview feature for Kingston's Unsilent Night tomorrow!
12/18/2025

really lovely preview feature for Kingston's Unsilent Night tomorrow!

In the spirit of community and creativity, Kingston will host its sixth annual Unsilent Night on Dec. 19, an immersive, musical walking experience created by composer Phil Kline. The event transforms the streets into a moving soundscape, inviting participants to become part of a living, breathing mu...

Mark Mobley, who is the parade’s organizer, says that “Physically carrying this music together through downtown is one o...
12/18/2025

Mark Mobley, who is the parade’s organizer, says that “Physically carrying this music together through downtown is one of the best ways to express the warmth and joy of the season, regardless of affiliation, regardless of what expectations you bring. It's just a way for people to get together and celebrate getting together…”

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night has returned to Athens, bringing back the interactive sound sculpture event that originated in New York.

Week Three of Unsilent Night features 16 more amazing cities! https://www.unsilentnight.com/schedule📻 Frankfurt, Germany...
12/16/2025

Week Three of Unsilent Night features 16 more amazing cities! https://www.unsilentnight.com/schedule

📻 Frankfurt, Germany: December 15
presented by Goethe-Universität Frankfurt

📻 Albuquerque, NM: December 17
presented by First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque

📻 San Francisco, CA | Pacific Heights: December 17
presented by San Francisco Public Library, Golden Gate Valley Branch

📻 Washington, DC: December 17
presented by The Previously Unknown Legend

📻 Amesbury, MA: December 18
presented by the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce

📻 Miami, FL: December 18
presented by Fereshteh Toosi and Emile Milgrim (Las Nubes and Other Electricities)

📻 San Diego, CA: December 18
presented by Buffy Budz

📻 Sherwood Park, AB: December 18
presented by Strathcona County Library

📻 Kingston, NY: December 19
presented by Kevin Muth

📻 Charlotte, NC: December 19
presented by Nathan Matthews and Goodyear Arts

📻 Athens, GA: December 19
presented by Mark Mobley

📻 Philadelphia, PA: December 20
presented by Relâche

📻 Healdsburg, CA: December 20
presented by Noah Jeppson

📻 Kinderhook, NY: December 20
presented by Chelsea Faulkner

📻 Carson City, NV: December 21
presented by Brewery Arts Center

📻 Montclair, NJ: December 21
presented by Charlie Spademan and Indie Arts Montclair

Photo of Unsilent Night NYC 2025 by Geralyn Shukwit

12/15/2025

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59 Washington Square S
New York, NY
10012

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