James A. Grymes

A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust and of the Israeli violinmaker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life. The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with Jewish classical musicians and as a central part of social life, as in the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind's darkest hour, and, in at least one case, a violin helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future. Today, these instruments serve as powerful reminders of an unimaginable experience—they are memorials to those who perished and testaments to those who survived. In this spirit, renowned Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein has devoted the past twenty years to restoring the violins of the Holocaust as a tribute to those who were lost, including four hundred of his own relatives. Behind each of these violins is a uniquely fascinating and inspiring story. Juxtaposing these narratives against one man's harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family's history and the history of his people, this insightful, moving, and achingly human book presents a new way of understanding the Holocaust.

Violins of the Holocaust--Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind's Darkest Hour

Violins of Hope

Provides a comprehensive examination of the life and work of the often-neglected Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, and pedagogue Ernst von Dohnanyi (1877-1960).

Ernst Von Dohnányi

Ilona Von Dohnanyi

"... a rare kind of biography and autobiography: a clear and elegant exposition of fact, as well as a humane portrait of a great piano virtuoso, composer, teacher, and democratic soul, as told to and seen through the eyes of one close to him." -- Mark Mitchell Ernst von DohnÃ¡nyi (1877--1960) was one of the most highly respected musicians of his time. The young DohnÃ¡nyi enjoyed an international prestige that brought him into contact with such 19th-century masters as Johannes Brahms and EugÃ ̈ne d'Albert. He is remembered for his technique and interpretive skills as a pianist and conductor, as well as for the masterpieces he composed for piano, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. As a teacher and administrator, DohnÃ¡nyi was responsible for the training of an entire generation of musicians in Hungary, and for helping to shape the country's musical culture. After World War II, his career foundered when he was falsely accused of being a Nazi sympathizer. In 1953, at the age of 76, DohnÃ¡nyi returned to international prominence with a triumphant "re-debut" at Carnegie Hall. Ernst von DohnÃ¡nyi: A Song of Life, written from a firsthand perspective by DohnÃ¡nyi's widow, is the first full English-language biography of the artist.

James A. Grymes

About

Books

Join the club