Thursday, July 21, 2005
Book Alert: Behind the Music
The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany
by Martin Goldsmith
"Martin Goldsmith's parents met while playing in a Jewish orchestra that was briefly encouraged by the Nazis for propaganda purposes.
"Gunther Goldschmidt played flute and Rosemarie Gumpert was a violist in the orchestra, which was sponsored by the Judische Kulturbund, the Jewish culture association. Composed of Jewish musicians, the orchestra played for Jewish audiences only from 1933-1941.
"Responding to criticism about how Jews were being treated in Germany, Hitler's propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels pointed to the existence of the culture association and to the orchestra as proof of the tolerant treatment of the Jews. The organization provided an artistic haven after more than 8,000 Jews were excluded from German orchestras, operas and theater companies in 1933.
"The little-known story of the Judische Kulturbund and the stories of Goldsmith's relatives are the subjects of his book, The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany." ¶ 7/21/2005 06:00:00 AM
The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany
by Martin Goldsmith
"Martin Goldsmith's parents met while playing in a Jewish orchestra that was briefly encouraged by the Nazis for propaganda purposes.
"Gunther Goldschmidt played flute and Rosemarie Gumpert was a violist in the orchestra, which was sponsored by the Judische Kulturbund, the Jewish culture association. Composed of Jewish musicians, the orchestra played for Jewish audiences only from 1933-1941.
"Responding to criticism about how Jews were being treated in Germany, Hitler's propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels pointed to the existence of the culture association and to the orchestra as proof of the tolerant treatment of the Jews. The organization provided an artistic haven after more than 8,000 Jews were excluded from German orchestras, operas and theater companies in 1933.
"The little-known story of the Judische Kulturbund and the stories of Goldsmith's relatives are the subjects of his book, The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany." ¶ 7/21/2005 06:00:00 AM
