Rauner piano accordion owned by Irmgard Ray
Object numberM2016/034
TitleRauner piano accordion owned by Irmgard Ray
CreatorRauner (manufacturer)
DescriptionRauner piano accordion donated by Jeffrey Ray. It belonged to his mother, Irmgard Ray (nee Ruf) who was born in Recklinghausen, Germany in 1924. Having previously learned to play the piano, the accordion was presented to Irmgard by her Mother, Freda Ruf (nee Traube), prior to the family’s transport to Riga Ghetto. This instrument was held in safekeeping by a neighbour until Irmgard’s return and was later played on rare occasions for family in Australia.
Irmgard spent time in several concentration camps and endured a death march. In the months following liberation, she and her mother endeavoured to return to Germany on foot. Freda died on the walk.
This accordion is representative of life before the atrocity of war; a life of family, community and a thriving Jewish culture.
In her recollections of early life in Herne, Irmgard mentions attending a modern synagogue where she was a member of the choir. The organ, a relatively progressive addition to the repertoire of music offered at synagogues, was played as an accompaniment. Whilst Irmgard did not clarify when she learnt to play the piano, the influence of the organ at shul was probably a factor; particularly given the emerging popularity of modern, more secular compositions merged with traditional Jewish music, during the early twentieth century.
In general, families of the Weimar Republic held musical ability in high regard. Prior to 1933, within a flourishing culture of classical composers and internationally recognised musicians, children both Jewish and non-Jewish were encouraged and supported in their artistic endeavours. Freda was probably influenced in much the same way when she nurtured Irmgard to learn the piano and later purchased the accordion. It is the songs and melodies of this period, played from memory, that Irmgard's her son Jeffrey remembers so fondly:
“She made that instrument sing. She knew the melodies by heart. These were joyous times”
Irmgard spent time in several concentration camps and endured a death march. In the months following liberation, she and her mother endeavoured to return to Germany on foot. Freda died on the walk.
This accordion is representative of life before the atrocity of war; a life of family, community and a thriving Jewish culture.
In her recollections of early life in Herne, Irmgard mentions attending a modern synagogue where she was a member of the choir. The organ, a relatively progressive addition to the repertoire of music offered at synagogues, was played as an accompaniment. Whilst Irmgard did not clarify when she learnt to play the piano, the influence of the organ at shul was probably a factor; particularly given the emerging popularity of modern, more secular compositions merged with traditional Jewish music, during the early twentieth century.
In general, families of the Weimar Republic held musical ability in high regard. Prior to 1933, within a flourishing culture of classical composers and internationally recognised musicians, children both Jewish and non-Jewish were encouraged and supported in their artistic endeavours. Freda was probably influenced in much the same way when she nurtured Irmgard to learn the piano and later purchased the accordion. It is the songs and melodies of this period, played from memory, that Irmgard's her son Jeffrey remembers so fondly:
“She made that instrument sing. She knew the melodies by heart. These were joyous times”
Production placeGermany
Production date 1930 - 1940
Production period20th century
Subjectmusic, musical instruments, world that was, Pre-war life
Object nameaccordions
Dimensions
- width: 395.00 mm
height: 380.00 mm
height: 240.00 mm
depth: 180.00 mm
Language
- German Name - no translation
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Jeffrey Ray