http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DRdxT7XE1E
This is a video I found of Maxim Vengerov playing a classical violin piece - the Chaconne from J.S. Bach's Solo Violin Partita in d minor - in the hallways of Auschwitz. What effect does the setting of this video have on our perceptions of the piece? What are the main ideas in what the commenters are saying on youtube? How have they reacted to this piece?
7 comments:
In the beginning,I listened to this piece without watching the video and without reading the description or the history behind the piece in order to get the feel and appreciate the music itself. After the first listening, my immediate thought was that it was a very melancholic piece and that there was a sort of a hidden message behind the music itself. It sounded sad but it carried a nostalgic tone as well. Then when I watched the music video and read the description the hidden message became clear to me immediately. The hallways of Auschwitz was a great symbolism to this piece of music. I have read about the cruelty and the bloody history of extermination camps like Auschwitz in history class before but it was nothing like watching this video. This video really exemplifies the true nature of the horrors that the prisoners went through. It is capable of making us visualize the cruelty that had happened in Auschwitz years and years ago. The tales about the survivors really brings to our attention as to how bad the lower class people were treated during the war and this has thought me that we should be thankful for the kind of peaceful life that we experience now. In general, I think the main ideas in what the commenters were saying was that the video left them with a deeper level of understanding of the true nature of the Auschwitz camp and helped them understand the post effects of the war on the people who were affected by it. One commenter even took his or her hat off to Vengerov because he dared to play the piece in Auschwitz itself in tribute to the survivors. I think this video was particularly emotional to the Jew viewers as they were they group of people who were treated the worst by the Nazi in Auschwitz. The German commenters were also particularly moved by this piece as I think the Holocaust was deeply connected to them than it was to the others. I noticed that they gave the most emotional comments compared to the others who were mostly commenting on the quality of the music or the playing skills of Vengerov. Mostly, this piece was is a well loved piece by many and many were actually deeply moved by this piece as was evident from majority of the comments that I have read.
In the beginning, I listened to this piece without watching the video and without reading the description or the history behind the piece in order to get the feel and appreciate the music itself. After the first listening, my immediate thought was that it was a very melancholic piece and that there was a sort of a hidden message behind the music itself. It sounded sad but it carried a nostalgic tone as well. Then when I watched the music video and read the description the hidden message became clear to me immediately. The hallway of Auschwitz was a great symbolism to this piece of music. I have read about the cruelty and the bloody history of extermination camps like Auschwitz in history class before but it was nothing like watching this video. This video really exemplifies the true nature of the horrors that the prisoners went through. It is capable of making us visualize the cruelty that had happened in Auschwitz years and years ago. The tales about the survivors really brings to our attention as to how bad the lower class people were treated during the war and this has thought me that we should be thankful for the kind of peaceful life that we experience now. In general, I think the main ideas in what the commenters were saying was that the video left them with a deeper level of understanding of the true nature of the Auschwitz camp and helped them understand the post effects of the war on the people who were affected by it. One commenter even took his or her hat off to Maxim Vengerov because he dared to play the piece in Auschwitz itself in tribute to the survivors. I think this video was particularly emotional to the Jew viewers as they were they group of people who were treated the worst by the Nazi in Auschwitz. The German commenters were also particularly moved by this piece as I think the Holocaust was deeply connected to them than it was to the others. I noticed that they gave the most emotional comments compared to the others who were mostly commenting on the quality of the music or the playing skills of Vengerov. Mostly, this piece was is a well-loved piece by many and many were actually deeply moved by this piece as was evident from majority of the comments that I have read.
This is a beautiful piece of music, a beautiful performance, and a beautiful backdrop. Put together with the symbolism, it makes for an emotionally charged and powerful video. It is both grieving/mourning and reflective, as it celebrates the rise and triumph of good over evil. As a German American whose grandparents were immigrants after escaping Russian concentration camps when Germany was defeated, this whole thing has even more significance to me. The video makes the haunting imagery of Auschwitz known to those who watch it but also the freedom of those who survived, escaped, or lived on to tell the tale of when the world joined in alliance to defeat a true evil cause. I think the music meant a lot more to me in context with the setting of the video than it would have without it, since I am by no means a classical music aficionado, but in general it gives the tune a darker tone. Those who commented usually indicated how moved they were by the video and its setting and the fact that, as one person noted best I think, it gives viewers the chance to "imagine a strolling violinist, Jewish, playing Bach's Chaconne at Auschwitz. What a tribute to the triumph of good over evil." That, to me, is what made the combination of audio and video better than either the images of Auschwitz or the classical piece better than either could have been on its own.
I think the above comments are spot on. As Ben noted, one of the commenters said, "imagine a strolling violinist, Jewish, playing Bach's Chaconne at Auschwitz." I think that what this commenter was getting at is that Bach was one of Germany's greatest, most well known composers, who came long before the Nazi party was even thought of. This video is one example of how powerful music can be, not only in it's original context (a Baroque church or concert hall), but also recontextualized to mean something different - interpreted here as "a tribute to the triumph of good over evil." Do you think there are any other problems or issues that come up in recontextualizing music?
To me, the first impression of this video is solemn and depressed. I predicted it would be a grieving and serious matter. As expected, this piece of music conveys complex affection about the second world war, bloody history of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The first scene is on a cold winter day, the violinist plays the violin pensively, walking in the shaded corridor, away from sunshine. Gradually it turns to the climax, the music become hurried and the settings show three survivors after the war, whose eyes without vitality and concentration. I suppose that the appearance of people still alive frames a distinct contrast to the war or on the other hand, the dehumanized behavior of Nazi. Due to the poisonous gas and cruel torture, millions of people were murdered in Auschwitz, survival of these few people reminds us the history and do not let it happen again. Besides, back to the video, the player goes outside along the wire fence, steps into the sunshine and finally exits the concentration camp, which indicates a new life and the light of world.
In addition, some commenters mentioned that the composer, Bach, is a great German Composer and However the violinist is Jewish. Based on this fact, we can discern the how powerful music is. Furthermore, it uncovers the crudeness of Nazi and what we are supposed to do is not only remember the bloody history, but more important, concern about the people alive and do not let the tragedy happen again.
No offence to anyone, but by the end of the video, I was sleepy. I don't know why, but the music seemed to have a soporific effect on me. That being said, the construction is very beautiful, and varied. There are parts where I felt that the music was representing a negative state of mind, but then it takes sudden turns towards optimism. I have only heard one other construction of Bach, which is "Air". This piece of music is very different from it. Air is more subtle, uses more instruments, and has a relaxing and soothing effect. I have learnt a lot through the comments above, especially the ones in the historical contexts. But I honestly have no idea when it comes to Western Classical music, compositions and composers. So I'll limit my musical discussion at that. One thing that I did observe, which is quite common on youtube, is the unacceptability towards negative opinions over legendary pieces of construction, as this one.
For instance, if you will, take a look at this comment-
"49 people are lost in a generation of fake rappers, empty hip hop music, and fist bumping...".
The 49 people that the commenter is looking down upon are the people who have disliked the video. I really believe that people need to be more open-minded towards music, because if you try to limit it, create boundaries around it, or define it, IT'S NOT MUSIC ANYMORE!
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