3

Auschwitz musical arrangements found in archive

The sign at the entrance of the Nazi concentration camp reads "work sets you free," but that wasn't the case for most prisoners there. Camp commandant, Rudolf Höss decided music would encourage a rhythm to the prisoners’ labour, music that was provided by the prisoners themselves. They were forced to play music during executions and other events. One of the tunes was the sardonic “The Most Beautiful Time of Life.” The manuscripts were found by professor of music theory Patricia Hall.