Zu Ejns, Zwai, Drai (op. 7a)

 

For solo violin – duration: 5′

“Zu Ejns, Zwai, Drai” is a song that emerged from the resilience of Jewish prisoners held captive in the concentration camps of the National Socialist regime in the German Reich. The melody and lyrics were preserved by the German-Dutch composer and conductor Hans Krieg, who himself endured internment in the Dutch transit camp Westerbork and the German concentration camp Bergen-Belsen.

The song features a Yiddish text that speaks of a hopeful and purposeful life—a vision that starkly contrasts with the harsh reality faced daily by those who sang it. In this sense, “Zu Ejns, Zwai, Drai” became a beacon of optimism and a means to sustain the spirit and morale of the prisoners. This solo violin arrangement aims to capture both the haunting beauty of the song’s melody and the profound strength found in its message.

Zu Ejns, Zwai, Drai is part of the musical memorial drama Yom Kippoer 1942: The Last Prayer. This composition premiered on the 19th of October 2024 in the Grote- of Mariakerk in the city of Meppel, The Netherlands. It was written for and played by Austrian violist Eva Lucia.