Music in the Holocaust

            A variety of reasons were given for the creation of orchestras in concentration camps. Orchestras would offer a beat for prisoners to march in step with, they would provide a false consolation to those unfortunate (or fortunate in some people’s opinion) souls who were heading to the gas chambers. The aforementioned reasons were the official reasons given to construct an orchestra, but the underlying motive behind the installment of orchestras in concentration camps was for pure entertainment. Nazi officers missed hearing music, they created an orchestra made of practiced, imprisoned musicians, and they had music to listen to when the effects of mass-murder wore them out. And so, a little “heaven” was erected inside the tombs of the concentration camps.        

            Orchestra members of concentration camps were considered the privileged prisoners. The musicians were given permission to use adequate restrooms at their leisure, and to take warm showers everyday. Musicians were given clothing of better material than other prisoners, clothing that actually fit each orchestra member. The privileged few had opportunities to receive amounts of nutritious food; at times they ate 1200 calories per day. None of the members of the only women’s orchestra died during their time at Birkenau. In the orchestra there was no constant drilling, members still knew what it was like to laugh, to joke around and tell stories. The orchestra had it good; they were indeed the few fortunate ones at the camps.

            An array of songs and styles of music were played during the Holocaust. Orchestras had to make due with music they were given, but they also crafted their own scores. Marches would be played, and classical music was prominent for concerts. Fania Fenelon, a singer at Birkenau, composed scores for the women’s orchestra. Often, she would copy music that had been banned by Germans, but the SS officers in her camp were too ignorant to realize they were hearing forbidden music. Many times Nazis would ask for pleasant melodies; most likely to make their own realities more bearable. To be forced to play music chosen for them was one of the hardships orchestra members faced.

Władysław Szpilman playing the piano

            Numerous musicians of the Holocaust are still remembered today. Alma Rose, the conductor of the woman’s orchestra in Birkenau, was on the road to becoming a famous violinist. Unfortunately she was arrested by the Nazis. After showing off her skills to heads of Birkenau, Alma became the conductor and almost mother of the girls in her barracks. Fania Fenelon was a member of the orchestra during the time Alma Rose conducted. She wrote a book on her experiences, titled Playing for Time, and her memoir became a well-known TV movie and stage play. Władysław Szpilman, a pianist who survived the Holocaust, played music for the rest of his life. Szpilman wrote a book on his life, later turned into a movie, “The Pianist“. These musicians are remembered today because of their talent and determination during the reign of Hitler.

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