Anna G. Piotrowska: Romani Musicians and the Holocaust

The Roma – as victims of the Holocaust – fell under the category of 'the forgotten' (die Vergessenen), and the fate of Romani musicians in concentration camps has rarely, if ever, been brought to light or researched. In the talk, the functions of Romani music making and the position of Romani musicians in concentration camps will be discussed and compared with the situation of fellow Jewish musicians. In addition, the question will be asked how the pre-war popularity of Romani orchestras (abounding in Central Europe) translated into the situation of Romani musicians in camps and whether or not it directly impacted the fate of particular musicians. At the same time, during the talk other questions will be posed, for example: Did the Roma outside the camps continue to work as musicians, or did they keep a low profile ceasing to perform publicly? Did music help them survive or was it quite the opposite? The presentation will focus on several well-documented cases but will also address some perpetuating legends and myths concerning Romani musicianship.

Commented on by Ursula Hemetek

Anna G. Piotrowska, musicologist (Jagiellonian University in Krakow and Durham University), has published numerous books and articles on the role music plays in shaping, influencing, and reflecting cultural and political contexts. She is concerned with issues at the intersection of music culture and the concepts of race and ethnicity.

Ursula Hemetek, Director of the Music and Minorities Research Center at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, 2011-2022 Director of the Institute for Folk Music Research and Ethnomusicology, 2017-2021 Secretary General of ICTM (International Council for Traditional Music). Main research interests: Music of minorities in Austria, especially Roma, Burgenland Croatians and Bosnians, and migrants in Vienna and refugee movements. Co-initiator of Transkulturalität_mdw, cultural work in the field of minorities, numerous publications in ethnomusicology. She is a 2018 Wittgenstein Award winner.