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Music as Survival, Not Beauty
- The Auschwitz women's orchestra was not about beautiful music but survival through playing basic military tunes.
- Music provided a transformative focus and hope, even if the music itself was "ghastly" and simple.
Personal Link Sparks Research
- Anne Sebba began researching the orchestra when tracing her father's role at Belsen post-liberation.
- She connected her father's arrival with the orchestra's presence and realized this story was much bigger than expected.
Orchestra's Dark Camp Role
- The orchestra was formed partly to create an illusion of a militarized camp and to keep prisoners marching in step for roll calls.
- Playing the orchestra was often hated by other prisoners who saw the players as privileged survivors.