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The Music of the Holocaust
Although it isn't the first thing that comes to one's mind when the subject is brought up, but the Holocaust had a major impact on music and music, played a rather large role during the Holocaust.
Prisoners like the ones above participated in camp orchestras. Some might think this was a way to stay alive, others know it was a form of emotional torture. The members were forced to play while their families, friends and nieghbors were selected for death in the gas chambers or firing squads.
This is the orchestra of the Janowska Camp in Lvov, Poland in 1943. Similar orchestras existed in all concentration camps.
Each camp had their own camp song they would sing and play, this one is titled "Piesn Obozowa" , words by Zbigniew Koczanowicz and music by Ludwik Zuk-Skarszewski
Separated from the world by barbed wire, We're rounded up from everywhere The longing woven into our hearts, Throbs like a ringing bell. You with the striped rag on your back, Could you forget who you are—and where? They stitched a number to your breast, A red triangle and the letter "P". And your shaved head reminds you, Of your burden of sins unknown, And you yearn for the day When your will and your purpose return. Neither stars nor sun bring you happiness, Neither day nor night yields joy. You stand and wait, dressed in stripes and shaved bare; With thousands of others like you. The words of this song are stained with our blood, Within them are sorrow and grief, Yet your camp song will carry beyond these barbed wires To a distant place unknown to you. Yet your camp song will carry beyond these barbed wires To a distant place unknown to you.
