About this item
Winner of the 2014 National Jewish Book Award HolocaustA stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and the Israeli violin maker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life.The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians and as a central factor of social life, asin the Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankinds darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members.
About the Author
James A. Grymes is an internationally respected musicologist, a critically acclaimed author, and a dynamic speaker who has addressed audiences at significant public venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. Dr. Grymes has been featured in interviews by the New York Times, ABC News, and CNN, and has written essays for the Huffington Post and the Israeli music magazine Opus.
His most recent book, Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind's Darkest Hour (Harper Perennial, 2014) , is the winner of the 2014 National Jewish Book Award in the Holocaust category.
Dr. Grymes is Professor of Musicology and Chair of the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is represented by John Rudolph of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
