Present Music invites public to perform “Unsilent Night” with cell phones, speakers in free post-modern holiday “caroling” event through streets of Milwaukee Dec. 14

Milwaukee (Dec. 6, 2022) – Milwaukee new music ensemble Present Music is inviting the public to bring cell phones, portable speakers and boomboxes to simultaneously stream tracks from the composition “Unsilent Night” in a free post-modern holiday “caroling” event through city streets Dec. 14.

In advance, each participant will download one of four tracks of music from “Unsilent Night,” composed by Phil Kline and created to work with additional tracks downloaded by other event participants. At 6:30 p.m., guests will join Present Music on a walk through the streets of Milwaukee creating a coordinated, constantly morphing sound sculpture with Wi-Fi speakers, boomboxes and smart phones. Kline’s shimmering soundscape involves concertgoers in the performance itself. The work and walk are about 45 minutes long.

Dr. Sushi from WMSE-FM will lead the group on a route starting at St. Kate – The Arts Hotel, 139 E. Kilbourn Ave., making stops at festive Downtown locations to enjoy the collective wash of sound and holiday lights. (Dr. Sushi will interview composer Kline the day before the event on 91.7FM WMSE’s Free Jazz Barbecue show at 10 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 13. Present Music has commissioned and premiered two works by Kline since the ensemble’s inception.)

The evening begins at 6 p.m. at St. Kate – The Arts Hotel’s Arc Theatre with free hot cider and a brief debut performance by the UWM New Music Ensemble. Scott Corley will conduct the following contemporary works: “Stay On It” (Julius Eastman), “Spiegel im Spiegel” (Arvo Pärt), and “Holiday for Reich” (Christophe Chassol).

Participants are encouraged to download the free “Phil Kline’s Unsilent Night” app from their phone’s app store before arriving for the performance. Carolers can bring portable Bluetooth speakers or boomboxes. Those without devices are still encouraged to attend and enjoy the event.

Milwaukee is one of more than 40 cities around the world, from Northern California to the south of France, presenting “Unsilent Night” during December this year. This is the second year Milwaukee has participated. Since its debut 30 years ago on the streets of New York’s Greenwich Village, “Unsilent Night” has been presented in over 150 cities across five continents.

“Unsilent Night” was written specifically to be heard outdoors in the month of December and always as a free event. Kline says the performance is like a Christmas caroling party but instead of singing, each participant adds to the song using phones and speakers. “In effect, we become a city-block-long stereo system,” he said.

The public is encouraged to register in advance at https://www.presentmusic.org/events. More information on “Unsilent Night” is at www.unsilentnight.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.