Celebration: Phil Kline's Unsilent Night

Gather in front of the Golden Gate Valley library for this special holiday event. Each participant simultaneously plays one of four pre-recorded tracks from a mobile device that amplifies music as we walk together on a pre-determined 45 minute route that will take us to the nearby Marina branch library and back to the Golden Gate Valley branch. No steep hills! This event will take place rain or shine. 

Unsilent Night is an original composition by Phil Kline, written specifically to be heard outdoors in the month of December, always as a free event. It takes the form of a street promenade in which the audience becomes the performer. Each participant gets one of four tracks of music. Originally the music was played using only cassette tapes in boomboxes, but as vintage boomboxes have become harder to find, most people use smartphones with portable speakers to blast the music (download the free Unsilent Night app which randomly selects one of the tracks to play). Together all four tracks comprise Unsilent Night. Participants start playing their devices simultaneously, then walk a carefully chosen route through their city’s streets, creating a unique mobile sound sculpture which is different from every listener’s perspective.

Composed in 1992, this multi-track electronic ambient piece has become a beloved annual holiday tradition for people around the world. Unsilent Night has been presented by municipalities, parks, museums, universities, music ensembles, wineries, libraries, and groups of friends in over 175 cities on five continents. For 20+ years it has been - and continues to be - held at Dolores Park in SF. People often bring their children, even infants and toddlers in strollers. Unsilent Night is a holiday tradition for many families. This will be the first hosting by the San Francisco Public Library.

Come prepared with the free Unsilent Night app downloaded to your device. Portable Bluetooth speakers are recommended for better sound. Do not play the album from another music site, as it will cause problems. Only use the app or the download from the Unsilent Night website. Tape cassettes will not be available for this event. Visit UnsilentNight.com/Participate for more information. 

This 4 minute WQXR video from 2011 gives a good introduction to the Unsilent Night experience.

“One of the loveliest communal new-music experiences you'll ever encounter.” — TIME OUT

“a shimmering sound-wall of bells and chimes that is dreamlike to wander through in the December nip.” — THE VILLAGE VOICE

This program made possible with the kind permission of Phil Kline and UnsilentNight.com. 

Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night. Copyright © 1992 by Phil Kline. 

Photo credit: Unsilent Night New York 2014 by Taylor Davidson.