NEW YORK, NY.- Times Square Arts brings musician and composer Jherek Bischoff’s Cistern, a video from his latest album, to Times Square’s electronic billboards from 11:57 p.m. to midnight every night in August. This project is a part of Midnight Moment, a monthly presentation by The Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) and Times Square Arts.

The video features Bischoff as a lone tuxedoed figure awakening from the earth to traverse the expanses of the globe, covering the most extreme landscapes of the ocean floor, arid salt flats, glaciers, and mossy rainforest, ultimately retiring under a star-studded sky.

Cistern is inspired by sound improvisations Bischoff created in an empty, two-million gallon, underground water tank. The space boasts a 45-second reverb decay that forced Bischoff to slowdown and accommodate the unique acoustic qualities. Bischoff later recorded an album of ambient music, inspired by that time, with a live orchestra. The cinematic music naturally led to synchronization with film, and the contemplative manner in which Bischoff created soundscapes is echoed in its images. The video brings to life the expansiveness of the cistern and its relationship to distance, space and time, in an epic and introspective journey through extraordinary landscapes.

On August 21 and 22, Jherek Bischoff's Silent Orchestra will perform music from Bischoff's latest album Cistern on electronic orchestral instruments and stream through 400 sets of wireless headphones. To passersby, the ensemble will be completely silent; those who have headphones will be treated to an orchestral concert in the middle of Times Square – a spectacular way to perform music without violating the noise code. The finale of the concert will be synchronized with a screening of Bischoff's video for “Cistern,” broadcast on numerous screens throughout Times Square. Jherek Bischoff's Silent Orchestra features musicians from one of NYC's finest ensembles, Contemporaneous. The public is invited to arrive at 11pm both nights and the program will run until midnight.

On August 19 Bischoff will present an album release concert at National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn starting at 7pm.

Jherek Bischoff, Artist, said, “Working on Cistern has been absolutely epic: from the initial sessions in the two-million-gallon, empty water tank, to filming in eight remote locations around the world. I have been buried twice, sunburned three times, and submerged on the ocean floor with rocks tied to my waist – thankfully only once. Performing songs from my record Cistern in Times Square with the Silent Orchestra, culminating in my video being played on Times Square's screens, is the most exciting thing I can imagine. As a composer of music outside the mainstream, sharing my work with such a massive audience is a dream.”

Jim Batt, Director/Producer, said, “It feels appropriate that the Cistern video, filmed in remote locations around the world, following a figure alone among the elements, should be screened among the lively crowds at the heart of a bustling metropolis. The video’s cycle of time on a mythic and geological scale is a fitting juxtaposition to the exuberant rush and hustle of Times Square.”

Paola Prestini, Creative and Executive Director, National Sawdust, said, “As an artist-led nonprofit supporting those that thrive in the creation and exploration of new music, National Sawdust is thrilled to be a part of Jherek Bischoff’s upcoming performances. It is also our privilege to partner with Times Square Arts on this project as we both seek to maintain a unique and complex musical ecosystem in NYC.”

Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, said, “Once again, Times Square highlights its unique assets to expand the concept of what one can expect. Where else can one feel the heat and energy of the city, and grab a pair of headsets to listen to this emerging superstar and watch a midnight showing?”

Sherry Dobbin, Times Square Arts Director, said, “This is our most ambitious experiment to bring sound to our iconic silent surround cinema. The scope of Bischoff’s musical and video work and its cavernous origins are a perfect fit for this artificial canyon.”

Fred Rosenberg, President of the Times Square Advertising Coalition, said, “Each month, the Midnight Moment gets more and more creative incorporate new and interactive components like this month’s live orchestra. The committee was impressed by the video’s exploration of the diverse landscapes and geographies throughout the world. It’s a very fitting piece to be showcased in our very own concrete jungle.”