Germany - a melting pot of cultures and religions for centuries! In the course of the turmoil of German history, where the darkness of the past has often wrestled with the light of the present, the sounds of memory still resonate in the most diverse forms and expressions. Among the artists who once shaped the cultural landscape, the names of Jewish composers rise up like gentle melodies in a stormy orchestra - their works and their biographies are in danger of being forgotten. And so it was above all the Jewish composers who were able to portray human existence in their multifaceted compositions, which tell of triumph and tragedy, of love and loss, of hope and despair. Their music is like a river that flows through the troubled waters of history and yet never loses its essence - a reflection of the soul. During the Nazi era in particular, artistic freedom was nipped in the bud and the sounds of Jewish composers had to give way - their music was defamed as "degenerate". Many Jewish composers were driven from their homeland, went into exile or died in concentration camps - leaving their music behind as silent witnesses to an immense tragedy. Despite the horror and destruction, the music of these brave artists survived like a tender seed rising from the rubble. In the post-war years and up to the present day, their music continues to resonate as a living legacy of a bygone era and a source of inspiration for future generations. This must be preserved. Composers such as Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Darius Milhaud and Erwin Schulhoff stand as symbols of human endurance and the unshakable belief in the power of art, even in the darkest hours. Their works remind us that music is more than just sound - it is a language that connects across borders, a bridge between past, present and future. In order to endure and come to terms with the repression, some Jewish composers used humor as a survival strategy, true to the motto "Joy in suffering". A special form of musical expression is Klezmer: Its roots go back to the music of the people of Israel in the time of the Old Testament, when instrumental music was used, among other things, to put priests into a kind of trance state. The "Klezmorim" were often traveling artists who played music at celebratory occasions such as weddings or at aristocratic festivals. Klezmer music is known for its lively and stirring melodies, which are often spiced with a pinch of humor and a melancholic undertone. The musicians often used improvisation to express their feelings and thoughts, and humor was an integral part of their performances.By using unusual harmonies, fast tempos and playful rhythms, Klezmer musicians were able to create an atmosphere of joy and laughter, even in the midst of difficult living conditions. One of the world's best Klezmer musicians is the clarinetist Helmut Eisel, who with his composition "Rhapsody for an Unknown Klezmer" commemorates the "Klezmorim" who were persecuted and murdered in the Holocaust and thus carries their traditional art into the future. 

Helmut Eisel

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Sep 20, 2024

1.SiKo Klezmer. Tov! – Music for the world · Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach

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