History
Knaack started as a conservatory-trained percussionist and was a member of the Louisville Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. During this time, he mentored with composer John Cage who incorporated found objects into some of his work. Knaack developed a unique style of composition and performance on recycled materials and in 1998 he released his first album Junk Music, which was nominated for a Grammy award. Since then, he has continued expanding the medium both doing solo performances, conducting large jam sessions on recycled materials, and doing educational programs, often including the construction of a sound sculpture composed of recycled materials called a Junk Music Playstation. He has also collaborated with a number of artists in other realms of the traditional arts including choreographer Twyla Tharp, remixer Jack D. Elliot, producer David Kahne, the New York University Steinhardt School, and several symphony orchestras. In 2005, two tracks of his album Junk Music 2 were used in three television commercials: one for Electronic Arts, one for the National Basketball Association and one for ESPN, directed by Mark Romanek. Knaack has also worked with numerous schools and community groups, teaching music and environmental citizenry. In 2006, he developed the HOP (Help Our Planet) program, which encourages students to take small steps to help better the state of the environment. Knaack is currently working with producer/remixer Jack D. Elliot in a music ensemble called Rhythm Recyclers... Old Beats... New Music - now preparing for a Summer '08 tour.
Read more about this topic: Donald Knaack
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“Every library should try to be complete on something, if it were only the history of pinheads.”
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–1894)
“My good friends, this is the second time in our history that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. And now I recommend you to go home and sleep quietly in your beds.”
—Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940)
“We don’t know when our name came into being or how some distant ancestor acquired it. We don’t understand our name at all, we don’t know its history and yet we bear it with exalted fidelity, we merge with it, we like it, we are ridiculously proud of it as if we had thought it up ourselves in a moment of brilliant inspiration.”
—Milan Kundera (b. 1929)