Death of an Auschwitz musician, 103
mainRudolf Danel, one of the oldest known Auschwitz survivors, has died in Chicago, aged 103.
He played trumpet in the prisoners’ orchestra, but did not follow a musical career after the war.
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Was this Alma Rose’s orchestra he played in?
No – Alma Rose ran the orchestra in the women’s side of the camp.
Alma led a women’s orchestra, so probably not unless they needed a sub or something…
Alma Rosé’s orchestra was women-only and was at Birkenau. There was a separate men-only orchestra at Auschwitz.
There are a number of books you can consult about Alma Rosé’s orchestra. Two of the best are: Anita Lasker-Wallfisch: Inherit the Truth, a Memoir of Survival and the Holocaust; and Richard Newman and Karent Kirtley: Alma Rosé, Vienna to Auschwitz,
One book about the men’s orchestra in Auschwitz is Szymon Laks, Music of Another World (originally published in French in 1948).
There is much more information about the women’s orchestra.
Can’t get this article in Europe – any hope of a cut-&-paste?
Use a VPN with the location set to USA.
Fascinating story and a great link. He lived through extreme times and survived. May he rest in peace.
I’ve never seen a German style rotary valve trumpet played at such an extreme angle before. Usually the main body is flat – perpendicular to one’s body. That makes for a more natural hand position on the valve buttons.