Lebensmelodien
"Melodies of Life" are Jewish melodies, musical pieces that were composed, sung or played in the period of 1933-1945. The Melodies of Life have a story to tell, as each one of them is tied to a specific person or community - to Jewish life. These melodies were created in the most inhuman situations of persecution and murder, between life and death. The music helped to survive in the ghettos and camps - or to say goodbye to this world.
Fortunately, numerous compositions and stories from that time have survived. For example, the melody of Chad Gadja's Hungarian version was re-invented by Shmuel Blasz. He and his friend Shmuel Lazarovich were in a Hungarian labor camp. Only Lazarovich survived, and with him the notes of his dear friend's compositions. Shmuel Lazarovich kept the works and passed them on to the next generations, so that the story of his friend may be remembered.
The melodies being heard in concert halls, schools, public places as well as synagogues, churches and mosques…
At "Melodies of Life" we honor the memories of the individuals and communities who created these powerful melodies, and pay tribute to their enduring legacy. In addition to the concert, we also offer education programs that aim to integrate the "Melodies of Life" into the cultural memory of schools and communities.
Since 2022, our Lebensmelodien team has been conducting concerts and workshops at schools to provide insight into Jewish culture and to contribute to an active culture of remembering in Germany. Through its musical approach, this project provides a valuable supplement to Holocaust education and allows students to become part of the civil society's efforts to combat antisemitism. However, the Lebensmelodien also convey important themes and values beyond this, such as friendship, courage, dignity, and resistance.
