MUSA1400 · Music

Music in the Holocaust and the Third Reich

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course surveys the inspiring legacy of music by composers persecuted by the Nazis. We will study jazz, classical music, and cabaret from 1900-1944 targeted by the Nazi regime. Special focus is placed on the art and music created in Nazi concentration camps. Students will have the opportunity to experience live performances and archival materials and will meet Holocaust survivors, who will share their incredible testimonies with the class. Themes explored: socio-political impact on the arts in climates of intolerance and persecution; music and art as resistance; connections to contemporary forms of music such as rock, rap, reggae, etc.