Here’s how pianist Alexander Zlatkovski described this song: “If Christmas music hasn’t driven you crazy yet, this arrangement just might.” When even the performer says the song is weird, you know you’re in for quite a ride.
Zlatkovski’s version of “Silent Night” constantly changes key, starting in C but moving up the piano virtually the entire song. It’s startling but the key changes aren’t too jarring; you can even here how he completes one musical idea even as the character of the song changes with each key change.
It’s only two minutes, but he suggests wary listeners be patient: “Listen to it long enough, and your ears will begin to accept and anticipate and finally welcome the change — until the whole idea of tonality is eroded.”
And what could be more festive than that?
