Birth

:

1939 in Beaumont, TX

Death

:

February 2, 2009 in Maratea, Italy

 

Max Neuhaus was a renowned American percussionist and sound artist who was born on August 9, 1939, in Beaumont, Texas. He was raised in Dallas, where he began his musical training at an early age. Neuhaus was a self-taught musician who started playing the drums when he was just six years old. He later studied percussion at the University of North Texas and the Manhattan School of Music. Neuhaus began his career as a classical percussionist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles in the United States and Europe. He was a member of the New York Philharmonic from 1961 to 1964 and played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others. Neuhaus was also a member of the New York Percussion Ensemble, which was founded by his mentor, composer and percussionist John Cage. In the 1960s, Neuhaus began to explore the possibilities of sound as an art form in its own right. He became interested in creating sound installations and performances that would engage the listener in a new way. Neuhaus believed that sound could be used to create a sense of place and to transform the environment around us. One of Neuhaus's most famous works is "Drive-In Music," which he created in 1967. The piece was a sound installation that was installed in the parking lot of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The installation consisted of a series of speakers that were placed on the ground, each playing a different sound. As visitors walked around the installation, they would hear different combinations of sounds, creating a unique and immersive experience. Neuhaus continued to create sound installations throughout his career, including "Time Piece Beacon" (1978), which was installed in the clock tower of the Dia Art Foundation in New York City. The installation consisted of a series of bells that were programmed to ring at different times throughout the day, creating a unique sonic experience for visitors to the museum. In addition to his work as a sound artist, Neuhaus was also a respected teacher and lecturer. He taught at the California Institute of the Arts, the University of California, San Diego, and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He also gave lectures and workshops on sound art and the use of sound in public spaces. Neuhaus received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1972 and a MacArthur Fellowship in 1984. He was also awarded the Golden Nica prize at the Ars Electronica festival in Linz, Austria, in 1999. Neuhaus passed away on February 3, 2009, at the age of 69. He left behind a legacy as a pioneering sound artist who pushed the boundaries of what was possible with sound. His work continues to inspire artists and musicians around the world to this day.

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