Wolf Durmashkin

Wolf Durmashkin (Wulf Duhr-MASH-k'n) (Lithuania, March 7, 1914 in Lithuania – September 18 or 19, 1944 in Klooga concentration camp, Estonia) was a Jewish composer, conductor and pianist in Vilnius (then known as Vilna), Lithuania.

Life

Wolf Durmashkin was born in Lithuania, the exact place of birth is unknown. He was the son of Akiva Durmashkin, liturgical music director and choir leader, and Shayna Durmashkin. His sister were Fania Durmashkin and Henia Durmashkin.[1]

He graduated from the Vilna Conservatory of Music and the Warsaw Conservatory. He produced and directed the opera "Aida" in Hebrew.[2]

Wolf Durmashkin was appointed conductor of the Vilna Symphony in 1939 at the age of 25. He organized a symphony orchestra and a 100-voice Hebrew choir while incarcerated in the Vilna Ghetto.

The ghetto orchestra performed 35 chamber and symphonic concerts in the 15 months of its existence under his direction.

In September 1943 when the Vilna Ghetto was liquidated, Wolf Durmashkin was taken to the Klooga, Estonia concentration camp.

He was executed on September 18 or 19, 1944.

Literature

  • Herman Kruk, "The Last Days of the Jerusalem of Lithuania, Chronicles from the Vilna Ghetto and the Camps, 1939–1944, trans. By Barbara Harshav (New York: YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, 2002)
  • Rachel Kostanian-Danzig, "Spiritual Resistance in the Vilna Ghetto (Vilna: Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum), 112
  • Cantore natan Stolnitz, “Akiva Durmashkin and His Influence on Liturgical Music in Old Radom, " The Radomer Voice, April 1964
  • Sonia Beker, "Symphony on Fire: A Story of Music and Spiritual Resistance During the Holocaust,” The Wordsmithy LLC, 2007), ISBN 978-0974885759

References

  1. ↑ Beker, Sonia (2007). Symphony on Fire: A Story of Music and Spiritual Resistance During the Holocaust. USA: The Wordsmithy LLC. p. 31. ISBN 978-0974885759.
  2. ↑ Beker, Sonia (2007). Symphony on Fire: A Story of Music and Spiritual Resistance During the Holocaust. USA: The Wordsmithy LLC. p. 44. ISBN 978-0974885759.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.