With many well-trained and gifted musicians being held in Terezin, a most remarkable musical life flourished, which included performances of chamber music, choral and orchestral works, and operas and oratorios. A number of recordings of the music composed at Terezin have been released over the past few years. They include beautifully-crafted works such as Gideon Klein s String Trio , based on Czech folk dances and Moravian tunes his nanny used to sing, composed just nine days before he was sent to Auschwitz. The stories and music of classical musicians and composers who have struggled against repression and censorship can be used to illustrate lessons about artistic freedom and the use of the arts as a form of peaceful protest and resistance. Use selected resources listed on page 8 to learn more about individuals such as Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich, Spanish cellist Pablo Casals, Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, and his wife, soprano Galina Vishnevskaya.
Music engages our emotions, our spiritual natures, and our intellect.
Whether we are raising our voices with others or listening to the world s finest artists, whether the message be explicit or abstract, specific or universal, we are celebrating and conveying the essence of the human spirit when we venture into the realm of music. Music is truly a language we can all understand. Karen Kraco invites others interested in music and human rights education to collaborate with her in the creation of a comprehensive resource and activity guide.