Art music and the holocaust

Composers of art music (as opposed to popular or folk music) have written over 60 compositions during the past 45 years which deal with the Holocaust. This study examines how composers treat the Holocaust in music and the novel techniques they use to express their sorrow or outrage about the tragedy. This article examines compositions by Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Górecki, Nono, Penderecki, Reich, and others to illustrate the significance of these works and the critical attention these works have received. It serves as an introduction to art music about the Holocaust and attempts to lay a foundation for future study of this largely ignored music.