The Sound of Hope: Music as Solace, Resistance and Salvation During the Holocaust
and World War II

from McFarland Books

Winner of a Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2021 Award

The Sound of Hope chronicles the stories of orchestras, composers, and musicians who stubbornly clung to music, wherever and however they could, to preserve their culture, to uplift the human spirit and to triumph over oppression, even amid incredible tragedy and suffering. The book also presents the many ways in which music became a medium for manipulation and abuse, as well as even a cog in the machinery of genocide.

Through over 20 years of research, Dr. Brown seeks to unify the historical, political, cultural, and sociological contexts of the camps, ghettos, and other war-torn locations with the music and musicians that forged indelible links with these places. She highlights how music became an agent of spiritual resistance and resiliency for the Jewish people as they battled against a force that sought to exterminate them. She has cultivated relationships with Holocaust survivors and their children and grandchildren, and through these connections, she has witnessed how music has been, and continues to be, a vital means for remembrance and reconciliation.

“Brown shows how for persecuted and imprisoned Jews, music became a way to preserve their humanity and at times even their lives. …Brown has succeeded admirably in bringing together in one volume so much important research.”—The Washington Post

“Powerful historical accounts of eight musicians whose work during the Holocaust and WW II encouraged hundreds of others as they faced daily brutalities and even death… critical information on the rise of the Third Reich… Each chapter provides rich background—drawn from letters, diaries, memoirs, and other sources—on the musicians and the atrocities they faced. …highly recommended.”—Choice

"Brown’s engaging writing style combines the objectivity of a scholar, the curiosity of an anthropologist, the enthusiasm of a dedicated professor, the discipline of a seasoned musician, the soul of a matriarch who reveres the WWII musicians as her kin, and the compassion of a minister. The inclusion of archival photographs and artwork reflects Brown’s keen understanding that visual art (as well as music) can often speak more honestly than the most researched and verified text. With all of Brown’s writing attributes in mind, The Sound of Hope often veers into fascinating tangents that still powerfully frame and propel the musically gripping stories which ground each chapter...Brown cares deeply about the subject matter and one cannot help but join in her reverence for Holocaust and WWII history and music. The musical examples serve both as aesthetic wonders and social commentary. The reader cannot resist delving even more deeply into the facts and musical scores. The reader is inspired to pause and listen to recordings of the music Brown so eloquently describes. Kellie D. Brown has written a book that has long been needed, for the elucidation of the general public and as an essential teaching tool." —Dr. Tamara Freeman, musicologist for the Association of Holocaust Organizations and the international alliance of Holocaust museums

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments ix
Preface 1
Introduction: The Power of Music 5
1. The Rise of the Third Reich and Its Cultural Agenda 9
2. Alma Rosé and the Women’s Orchestra 21
3. Dr. Herbert Zipper: From Dachau to the World 61
4. Alice ­Herz-Sommer and the Music in Terezín 79
5. Władysław Szpilman and the Warsaw Ghetto 121
6. Olivier Messiaen: A Composer Confronts the End of Time 157
7. Dmitri Shostakovich and the Musical Redemption of Leningrad 185
8. The Vocal Orchestra: Female POWs on Sumatra 227
Epilogue: Out of the Ashes—The Israel Philharmonic and Violins of Hope 277

Chapter Notes 295
Bibliography 301
Index 305

An Annotated Bibliography and Reference List
of Musical Fiction

from Edwin Mellen Press

Since the earliest civilizations, a connection has existed between music and the literary arts. From the Old Testament and ancient Greek poets to the great operatic masterpieces of the nineteenth century, music and words have forged an inseparable bond. This relationship is not only seen in musical genres but in a prolific output of novels for adults and children that contain musical themes, characters, and/or settings.

This book is the result of many years of research into fiction that has this musical connection. Focusing on novels mainly from the twentieth century, this volume contains an extensive annotated list featuring works for adult, young adult and juvenile audiences and also represents a wide range of musical genre from classical to jazz to rap. Following the annotations, this book provides a comprehensive listing of all titles sorted by reading level and by musical genres to assist librarians, educators, and readers in finding the precise book for a given need or interest.

“… Kellie Brown has taken on the Herculean task of compiling a bibliography that will lead many music librarians to ask, “Why didn’t I do that?” Now that there is a bibliography, those of us with great interest in musical fiction should rejoice. Some of us have also found it daunting to decide how much music should be a part of the plot, character involvement, or setting for a book to be considered “musical fiction.” Dr. Brown has successfully taken on this challenge with great zeal. … Not content to compile a mere list of readings, Dr. Brown has put together selected annotations to assist the reader further in finding just the right author or title. Part II of this book enumerates by reading level and musical genre many more titles that will be of interest to readers and most helpful to librarians compiling suggested reading lists. The true value of Dr. Brown’s manuscript is in the thoroughness of her work. Users will find the carefully constructed annotations and the categorized lists by reading levels and musical genres to be a fine contribution to the study of music and literature and of special interest to the music librarian, music researcher, and student of literature.” – (from the Commendatory Preface) John R. Gibbs, Assistant Head, Music Library, University of Washington

“It is with great pleasure I recommend to you the book An Annotated Bibliography and Reference List of Musical Fiction by Dr. Kellie Brown. This book is thoroughly researched and well-written, and will fill a niche in readers advisory for public libraries … This book provides a tool for patrons wishing to combine a love of fiction and a love of music. This book will also allow our children’s programmers to find musical titles to aid in children’s story times and themes for summer reading programs. This will also be of great benefit to parents who homeschool their children. I recommend this book and author highly, and will encourage all of the libraries with which I am affiliated to purchase a copy of this title.” – Nancy R. Renfro, Director, Watauga Regional Library

“In my thirty years as a music librarian, I have been waiting for a book such as this one! It is certainly a serious contribution to music bibliography and to music reference work …The value of Dr. Brown’s manuscript is in the thoroughness of her work, the carefully constructed and clear annotations, and the lists by reading levels and musical genres. In short, this is a work that will have a place on the reference shelves of any music library, a tool that will be used by music researchers, students of literature and literary criticism, as well as music librarians.” – John R. Gibbs, Assistant Head, Music Library, University of Washington

“I know of no other similar work, and I am certain that my public and academic librarian colleagues and avid fiction readers will find the book to be a valuable resource. … It is well-written and thorough. Professors, teachers, librarians, and the general reader will use it well, and I am excited at the prospect of being able to offer such a resource to the students and faculty at my institution.” – Laurel A. Whisler, Music Librarian, Furman University