Donald Knaack
Encyclopedia
Donald Knaack is an American
percussionist. He currently performs-on and composes-for recycled materials exclusively.
His album Junk Music was nominated for a Grammy award
and he has played in many prominent venues worldwide, including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Vans Warped Tour, The Sundance Film Festival, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Kansas City International Jazz Festival and more.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
percussionist. He currently performs-on and composes-for recycled materials exclusively.
His album Junk Music was nominated for a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
and he has played in many prominent venues worldwide, including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Vans Warped Tour, The Sundance Film Festival, Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, Kansas City International Jazz Festival and more.
History
Knaack started as a conservatory-trained percussionist and was a member of the Louisville OrchestraLouisville Orchestra
The Louisville Orchestra is the primary orchestra in Louisville, Kentucky and has been called the cornerstone of the Louisville arts scene. It was founded in 1937 by Robert Whitney and Charles Farnsley, Mayor of Louisville...
and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra located in Buffalo, New York. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall, which is a National Historic Landmark. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops...
. During this time, he mentored with composer John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
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
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. 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
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.-Early years:Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.she spend hours working on it to help her...
, remixer Jack D. Elliot
Jack D. Elliot
Jack D. Elliot is an American record producer and songwriter, perhaps best known for works with artist like Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Brandy, and Christina Milian.-Career:...
, producer David Kahne
David Kahne
David Kahne is an American record producer. Kahne started his musical career as a working musician and then became notable for his role as in-house producer and engineer at 415 Records, the first American new wave music label, and for his subsequent roles as Vice President of A&R at Columbia...
, 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
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
, one for the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and one for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, directed by Mark Romanek
Mark Romanek
Mark Romanek is an American filmmaker, whose directing work includes feature films, music videos and commercials.He wrote and directed the critically acclaimed 2002 film One Hour Photo starring Robin Williams...
. 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
Jack D. Elliot
Jack D. Elliot is an American record producer and songwriter, perhaps best known for works with artist like Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Brandy, and Christina Milian.-Career:...
in a music ensemble called Rhythm Recyclers... Old Beats... New Music - now preparing for a Summer '08 tour.
Discography
- 1966 - 1970: 22 recordings of contemporary music as a percussionist in The Louisville Orchestra - Louisville Orchestra Masterworks/Columbia
- 1974: Percussionist on Rothko Chapel/Morton Feldman - Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
- 1977: Cage/Duchamp (First Recordings, Solo percussion album) - Atlantic/Finnadar RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
- 1978: Three Constructions of John CageConstruction (Cage)Construction is the title of several pieces by American composer John Cage, all scored for unorthodox percussion instruments. The pieces were composed in 1939–42 while Cage was working at the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle, Washington and touring the West Coast with a percussion...
(The Donald Knaack Percussion Ensemble) - Tomato RecordsTomato RecordsTomato Records is an independent record label based in New York City. The label has released albums by influential artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Lightnin' Hopkins, Leadbelly, Chris Smither, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Harry Partch and John Cage.... - 1980: Inside the Plastic Lotus (Duo recording with Peggy Knaack) - Hat Hut Records
- 1982: Dance Music (Solo Recording) - RRRecordsRRRecordsRRRecords is a used and new record shop. RRRecords is distinguished as being the first American record label to specifically publish underground noise music in the early 1980s, and published the first American vinyl by Merzbow, Masonna, The Hanatarash, Violent Onsen Geisha, and many more artists...
- 1998: Junk Music (Solo recording) - Moo Records
- 2004: Junk Music 2 (Solo recording) - Moo Records
Works
- 1996: Surfer at the River Styx - commissioned for The Kennedy Center & American Dance FestivalAmerican Dance FestivalThe American Dance Festival is a six and four-week school for dance and a six-week summer festival of modern dance performances, currently held at Duke University and the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina....
and choreographer Twyla TharpTwyla TharpTwyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer, who lives and works in New York City.-Early years:Tharp was born in 1941 on a farm in Portland, Indiana, and was named after Twila Thornburg, the "Pig Princess" of the 89th Annual Muncie Fair in Indiana.she spend hours working on it to help her...
. - 2003: The Environmental Continuum - concertoConcertoA concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
for recycled materials and orchestra commissioned for the Eastern Music FestivalEastern Music FestivalThe Eastern Music Festival and School, founded in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a nationally renowned classical music festival of the performing arts and institute for young musicians that runs for five weeks during the summer. The institute accepts gifted students of ages 14 through 22...
, Louisville Youth OrchestraLouisville Youth OrchestraThe Louisville Youth Orchestra was founded in 1958 in Louisville, Kentucky. The orchestra provides an extraordinary musical experience for young people from grade school through age 21. The LYO is made up of four orchestras, two elementary string programs, and various ensembles in which students...
and Mansfield Symphony Youth Orchestra. - 2006: Odin: The Opera - operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
for spoken word and 10 recycled materials percussionists that premiered at New York UniversityNew York UniversityNew York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Loewe Theatre. - 2007: The Lost Civilization - musical featuring dramatic elements, traditional and recycled materials instruments and recorded content that premiered at Burr & Burton AcademyBurr & Burton AcademyBurr and Burton Academy is an independent, coeducational secondary school located in Manchester, Vermont, founded in 1829.Burr and Burton serves as the high school of choice for students from Manchester and several surrounding communities in southern Vermont including Dorset, Danby, Londonderry,...
in Manchester, VT.