Music is of such emotional power that it is perhaps no surprise that it features so heavily in the story of the Holocaust, given the profound emotions associated with the subject. The Nazis were acutely aware of the power of music and used it to their advantage in different situations. Although there is a lot of Holocaust music which serves as both historical source and rich artistic legacy, when thinking about this subject we cannot ignore the sound of silence: the emptiness left by lost talent, lives ended early, music that was prevented from ever coming into existence.
These notes are intended as an introduction to the wide subject of Music and the Holocaust and as a guide to exploring this website. The website contains many detailed articles, so these pages will give you some ideas and links for exploring further. You will come across questions and discussion points for you to think about.