Contribute by: Prof. M. Francesco Lotoro, Fondazione ILMC Istituto di Letteratura Musicale Concentrazionaria
The Citadel of Concentrationary Music represents the corollary of the extensive search of music scores written in concentration Camps and other places of imprisonment all over the world between 1933 and 1953, conducted over the last 30 years (and it’s not over yet) by the italian pianist and researcher Francesco Lotoro as well as of his documentary and philological work:
More than 8 thousand music scores
12,500 documents such as films, audio and diaries
3 thousand non-fiction books on concentrationary music
This immense artistic and human inheritance which Francesco Lotoro has managed to gather, is at the basis of the Institute of Concentrationary Musical Literature Foundation, established in 2014 by the musician with a small group of other founding members in Barletta, the city in Puglia (Italy) where the Citadel of Concentrationary Music will be created, the largest hub in the world dedicated to the music produced in the Camps; a place where Lotoro’s dream becomes history, artistic, cultural and spiritual treasure for all. The ICML Foundation – with authoritative scientific and artistic partnerships – has taken on the task of looking after this heritage ensuring the conservation, transcription, digitization, execution and recording of the thousands of musical scores that – pages unjustly torn from the book of collective History – were denied to public knowledge and fruition for over 70 years. Thanks to Francesco Lotoro and the ICML Foundation, this music has crossed Camps’ barbed wire limit, revealing a wide universe of feelings and emotions, and of great talents and masterpieces, finally made available to present and future generations. For this purpose Francesco is also working on the edition of the Encyclopedia Thesaurus Musicae Concentrationariae, a monumental multi-volume work dedicated to music written in concentration camps and to all related composers. This archive is now protected after the Italian Ministry of Culture designated it as “heritage of important national interest.”
As the archive held today by the ICML Foundation has reached monumental proportions, the need arose to create a space where this heritage could be safeguarded, studied and catalogued while, at the same time, allowing it to return to being a live subject capable of redeeming a huge catastrophe through art, music, creative thought and the deepest and most unfathomable emotions of the intellect. From this ideal stemmed the project of the Citadel of Concentrationary Music which envisages the recovery, over few years, of the old Distillery, an industrial archaeological site of Barletta destined to become a 9,000 square meter cultural centre. The complex will consist of the following Departments:
– CAMPUS: This space will have specific areas for the study/research of Concentrationary Music and a Main Hall; it will be the home of the Master in Concentrationary Music, of the National Jewish Music Centre “Emanuele Pacifici” and will include two Departments – the three-year Course in Jewish Musical Literature and the Study Center of Hazanuth in continental Europe and the Mediterranean – as well as the Restoration Laboratory of musical scores and instruments.
– MUSIC SCIENCES LIBRARY: Books and multimedia works will be available for consultation in this department; it will include reading rooms and working spaces and will be where conferences and editorial activities related to unpublished works and Enciclopedia Thesaurus Musicae Concentrationariae will be held.
– THESAURUS MEMORIAE MUSEUM: This area will host works by artists held in Concentration camps and other artworks donated to the Foundation; there will be facilities to access the materials kept in the Video and Phonographic Archive and will offer itineraries dedicated to individual visitors, school groups and other organized groups.
– ‘NUOVI CANTIERI’ THEATRE: This is an open-air theatre with cover designed for concerts and theatre plays. In addition, it has a special area for audio and video recordings.
– 1900’S BOOKSTORE: The bookstore will provide a wide-ranging editorial offer on the music of the XX century, without ignoring contemporary production and will include an Educational Laboratory, areas for the presentation of books, reading and sales of gadgets.
– STUDENT HOTEL: This is a small hotel providing accommodation for students and researchers, and will include a Literary Café and a Restaurant.
European Jewish History Project 