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Ghetto Music

Brundibár

Brundibár is an opera written for children in 1938 by Hans Krása and was performed for the Nazi propaganda film.                                                                                                                                                      

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Music of the Vilna Ghetto

The inmates of the Vilna ghetto established a vast array of cultural, intellectual and artistic organisations. This cultural vitality in many ways marked a continuity with the pre-war years.

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Zog nit keynmol az du geyst dem letstn veg

The 'Partisans Song' was written by the young Vilna poet Hirsh Glik, and based on a pre-existing melody by the Soviet-Jewish composer Dimitri Pokrass.                                                                              

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Kovno Ghetto Orchestra

In the summer of 1942, the ghetto police orchestra came into existence. Made up of 35 instrumentalists and five singers, the orchestra was led by the conductor Michael Hofmekler.                    

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Mordecai Gebirtig

The well-known Yiddish poet and songwriter Mordechai Gebirtig penned the hauntingly prescient and popular song ‘Es Brent’ (It is burning) in response to the Przytyk pogrom.                          

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The Nazi ghettos during World War II housed millions of people from diverse backgrounds across Europe. Within these confined spaces, music emerged as a significant aspect of daily life, particularly for Jewish inhabitants. Musical expression in the ghettos took various forms, ranging from folk songs and classical compositions to cabaret performances and lullabies.

This musical activity served multiple purposes: it acted as a means of cultural preservation, a form of documentation, an educational tool, and a coping mechanism for the harsh realities of ghetto life. By examining the music created and performed in ghettos such as Theresienstadt and Warsaw, we gain valuable insights into the experiences, responses, and resilience of those interned.

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Brundibár

Brundibár is a children's opera written in 1938 and composed by Hans Krása with lyrics by Adolf Hoffmeister. Its premiere in Terezín was on 23 September 1943.

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Memory

Buchenwald Tigers

The Tigers of Buchenwald performed in the camp after liberation at events organized by former prisoners and later a two-year musical journey throughout Germany.

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Bunalied

Bunalied was written in mortal danger in the Buna-Monowitz subcamp of Auschwitz with lyrics by Fritz Löhner-Beda and music by Anton Geppert.

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Camp System

An overview of the types of internment camps within the camp system of the Third Reich related to major phases of the Nazi regime.

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Classical Singers and the Holocaust

From 1933, a fine voice and vocal artistry were passports to freedom for some classically trained Jewish singers. But many singers could not escape.

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Eugen Engel

Composer Eugen Engel (1875-1943) found it increasingly difficult to pursue his musical activities. In 1943 He was deported to Sobibór death camp.

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Minutn fun bitokhn (Moments of certainty) is courtesy of Traditional Crossroads (www.traditionalcrossroads.com).
Recorded: Kampo, New York, USA
ISBN: CD 4297
Accession Number: CD213
Singing is Adrienne Cooper accompanied by Zalmen Mlotek playing Piano.

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