Unsilent Night December 9, 2006

New-York based composer Phil Kline will be staging his extraordinary musical event ‘Unsilent Night’ in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Vancouver, New York and San Francisco this year – and again will be making his sole UK appearance in Middlesbrough.

‘Unsilent Night’, which has become a seasonal classic since it was first performed in Greenwich Village in 1992 involves participants playing individual tapes on a boombox as they walk through the streets. The composer describes the event as “Christmas carolling without the singing” and like having “a city block-long stereo system.”

One of Kline’s boombox, symphonies ‘Chinook’ was specially commissioned for this year’s Winter Olympics. New York Village Voice describes his work as “sound sculptures” while the All Music Guide termed his boombox compositions as “the first necessary classical recordings of the 21st century.” The New York Times describes ‘Unsilent Night’ as “immersing the listener in suspended wonderment.”

“Middlesbrough will be the only place in the UK where you can take part in this amazing event” said Councillor Bob Kerr, a member of the council’s executive.

“It is the third year running that ‘Unsilent Night’ has come to Middlesbrough, so it is a tremendous coup for the town. Last year we had people travelling up from London to take part and everyone who has seen or heard it says it is an unforgettable experience.”

“It is a great chance to people to come to town and take part or watch and listen to a great event. If they miss it in Middlesbrough, it is certainly a long way to go to catch the next performance – the one after Middlesbrough is Washington Square, New York.

‘Unsilent Night’ will be performed in Middlesbrough on Saturday December 9. To take part meet at Dr Brown’s Corporation Road from 4:00pm. More details on the performance, including videos, are on Kline’s website: www.philkline.com and can also be heard at:http://www.myspace.com/unsilentnight

Official Website: http://www.philkline.com