Music-making as enforced labour in the concentration camp
Music-making as enforced labour in the concentration camp

Summary/Abstract: The paper proposes a new perspective on researching the already well-documented phenomenon of musical life in Nazi concentration camps. Acknowledging the awkwardness and even unsuitability of musical performances in such places, the author argues that, under camp circumstances, music-making should be defined as a specific type of enforced labour. Hence such concepts as ‘enforced labour’, ‘Beruf ’ (job) or ‘space of work’ are introduced while discussing musicianship in concentration camps. Although the paper draws on several examples, it particularly focuses on Auschwitz, understood as a complex system of camps. Seemingly prosaic aspects of musical life present there (prolonged hours of rehearsals, uniforms worn during concerts, etc.) are highlighted in order to rationalise the classification of music-making in concentration camps as yet another example of enforced labour.

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