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View of Holocaust Survivor Band Florida State University Libraries 2016 Celebrating and Preserving Music of Jewish Pasts: The Holocaust Survivor Band Emily Ruth Allen Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC CELEBRATING AND PRESERVING MUSIC OF JEWISH PASTS: THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND By EMILY RUTH ALLEN A Thesis submitted to the College of Music in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Music 2016 Emily Ruth Allen defended this thesis on April 1, 2016. The members of the supervisory committee were: Frank Gunderson Professor Directing Thesis Michael Bakan Committee Member Douglass Seaton Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the thesis has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii To my loving friends and family iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I owe so much to my advisor Dr. Frank Gunderson, who has provided excellent guidance from the day I first visited Florida State University in October 2013 to the present day. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Douglass Seaton and Dr. Michael Bakan for their helpful feedback and advice on this thesis, my coursework, and other academic affairs. I am thankful for my student mentor Kate Sutton for providing an excellent example of what it takes to be a top- notch musicologist. Without all of this guidance, this thesis would not have been possible. I would next like to recognize my closest friends and family. I am indebted to my local and extremely supportive colleagues, notably Carrie Danielson, Erica Fedor, McKenna Milici, and Ryan Whittington. To my family: I owe all of you more than words can express. From keeping me accountable on writing to ensuring that I make time for self-care, you have helped me to maintain a balanced lifestyle every step of the way. I love all of you immensely. This thesis of course would not have been possible without the Holocaust Survivor Band. I have greatly enjoyed getting to know Saul Dreier, Ruby Sosnowicz, and Chana Sosnowicz. You are all a tremendous inspiration and example of music’s ability to restore the individual, culture, and life. In promoting your message of peace, I pray that all of you continue to live well and succeed in all of your musical endeavors. I look forward to seeing the wonderful music and projects that you pursue in the future. L’chaim! iv TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ viii 1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................1 Background .................................................................................................................................8 Overview of Holocaust Survivor Band.....................................................................................8 Saul Dreier ..............................................................................................................................11 Reuwen “Ruby” Sosnowicz ....................................................................................................12 Summary of Personal Experiences with the Holocaust Survivor Band .................................13 Purpose and Significance ..........................................................................................................14 Survey of Literature ..................................................................................................................19 Holocaust Survivor Band Literature .......................................................................................19 Holocaust Literature ...............................................................................................................19 Memory, Nostalgia, Commemoration ....................................................................................21 Oral History ............................................................................................................................22 Klezmer Resources .................................................................................................................23 Jewish Music Resources .........................................................................................................24 Methodology .............................................................................................................................25 Background Research .............................................................................................................25 Oral History ............................................................................................................................26 Formulating Interview Questions ...........................................................................................27 Interviewing ............................................................................................................................28 Transcription ...........................................................................................................................29 2. CELEBRATION OF JEWISH PASTS AND COMMEMORATION OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS ..............................................................................................................31 3. REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ...............................................................................42 July 21, 2015 Recording Session ..............................................................................................42 September 9, 2015 Concert .......................................................................................................45 4. INTERVIEWS WITH SAUL DREIER ....................................................................................51 July 20, 2015 Interview .............................................................................................................51 July 21, 2015 Interview .............................................................................................................52 Perspectives of Saul Dreier .......................................................................................................53 5. CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................60 v APPENDICES ...............................................................................................................................64 A. MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT OF THE HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND .......64 B. HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR BAND PAMPHLET AND LETTER OF SUPPORT ................66 C. FIRST DREIER INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT ........................................................................69 D. SECOND DREIER INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT ...................................................................78 E. IRB APPROVAL AND CONSENT FORM ............................................................................85 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................88 Biographical Sketch .......................................................................................................................93 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1: (L-R) Emily Allen, Saul Dreier, Chana Sosnowicz, Ruby Sosnowicz, Jeff Black Marquee Studios, July 21, 2015 Photograph by a friend of the band .............................................................................42 Figure 3.2: Emily Allen’s Holocaust Survivor Band Souvenirs September 9, 2015 Photograph by Emily Allen ........................................................................................49 Figure 3.3: (L-R) Saul Dreier, Martin Freid, Chana Sosnowicz, concert organizer, Ruby Sosnowicz, Jeff Black The Waterford, September 9, 2015 Photograph by Emily Allen ........................................................................................50 Figure 4.1: (L-R) Emily Allen and Saul Dreier Festival Flea Market Mall, July 20, 2015 Photograph by mall customer .....................................................................................51 Figure 4.2: Band’s Gifts Photographs by Emily Allen .......................................................................................53 Figure 4.3: Saul Dreier at Marquee Studios, July 21, 2015 Photograph by Emily Allen ........................................................................................54 Figure 5.1: (L-R) Ruby Sosnowicz and Saul Dreier at Marquee Studios, July 21, 2015 Photograph by Emily Allen ........................................................................................63 vii ABSTRACT This thesis explores the experiences of a South Florida klezmer ensemble known as the Holocaust Survivor Band. The group was co-founded in April 2014 by Saul Dreier, then an 89- year-old resident of Coconut Creek, Florida, and Reuwen “Ruby” Sosnowicz, 85 years old at the time, a Delray Beach, Florida, resident. Dreier was inspired to form a musical ensemble of Holocaust survivors after reading about the death of pianist and fellow Holocaust survivor Alice Herz-Sommer. Ruby’s daughter Chana Sosnowicz joined the band as lead singer, and Holocaust survivor descendant Jeff Black joined
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