Music in Terezín under the German occupation during the Second World War

Lola Ramirez

About this exposition

A new perspective on role of music in Theresienstadt ghetto: an exploration of the meaning and significance of music in extraordinary circumstances, through the prism of the under-searched case of the ghetto-camp. Terezín, or Theresienstadt was a ghetto, or a transit camp where jews were held during the Second World War. Established by the Schutzstaffel (SS organisation) in 1941, it is in the fortress town of Terezín, on the territory of the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia, occupied by the Third Reich on the remains of the former Czechoslovakia. Known for its propaganda, the so called “model-ghetto” was the site of unique musical and cultural activities. Between 1941 and 1945, the music performances were flourishing despite the hunger, diseases, brutality, and fear of deportation. After visiting Terezín myself, this exposition is the result of months of research and investigations on the role of music not only in Terezín, but also in our lives. After a more historical first part where the role of music in the ghetto is analysed and described, the second part is a reflexion on our role in the musical world but also in the society as young artists. Inspired by the artists of Terezín, I try to understand how to give a meaning to our performances. What do we want to tell, or not, our audience about our performance program, and what difference can it make? Finally, the last part is a description of my project, directly impacted by this research. This research is a call to reflect on our duty as artists to pass on history and to make sure everyone remembers, but also a search for meaning.

type	research exposition
keywords	Terezín, music, nazi, propaganda
date	10/05/2022
published	11/07/2022
last modified	11/07/2022
status	limited publication
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	CC BY-NC-ND
language	English
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/1630069/1630070
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	3. Internal publication

name	Terezín
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Fortress
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Fortress
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Terezín
copyright	Lucie Zurmanova
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Map of Terezín - ghetto and small fortress
copyright	Holocaust Encyclopedia
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Terezín map from 1790
copyright	Wikipedia commons
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Z. Eismanová, "Women's dormitary" and "Children's home"
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Caricature of Gerron
copyright	USA public domain
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Jo Spier
copyright	Terezin Memorial
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	String quartet
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	verdi requiem
copyright	Courtesy of The Terezín Foundation
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Svenk Vsechno jde! - arranged by Moshe Zorman
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	poster
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	brundibar-act-i-scene-i
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Der Jasager
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	brundibar-act-i-scene-vi
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	brundibar-act-i-scene-vii
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	DSC02099
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	videoplayback
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	90-year-old Jewish Holocaust Survivor MakesSymphony Debut With Yo-Yo Ma
copyright	Lola Ramirez
license	All rights reserved
usages	video

name	Ullmann
copyright	Lucie Zurmanová, Terezín Memorial Museum
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	CD trio
copyright	The Hague String Trio
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	program
copyright	The Hague String Trio
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

name	Metronome
copyright	Lucie Zurmanova
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

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Music in Terezín under the German occupation during the Second World War (2022)

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