INSTRUMENTS IN THE CAMPS?
In the first camps, political detainees who are arrested carry very few personal belongings, but some may later write to their families to be sent their instrument and scores.
In cases where detained musicians arrive with their instrument, the instrument is immediately confiscated.
In rare cases, an SS officer himself orders at the inmate’s expense, or instruments are manufactured in the camp.
This is the case of the Mauthausen double bass.
Double bass made in Mauthausen with bow, 1942-1943, Mauthausen camp Památník Terezín 
Received by inmate Vlastimil Louda for the Effektenkammer , 21 February 1941, Buchenwald camp, ITS Digital Archive, Arolsen. © Archives
INMATE ORCHESTRAS AND COMMANDERS PRESTIGE
Auteur non identifié, caps..., from! , 1944, camp de Buchenwald Stiftung Gedenkstätten. © Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora
As soon as the first «rehabilitation» camps were opened, the official German press was invited to praise their effectiveness.
Photos of musicians published on this occasion are intended to reassure the public about the conditions of detention.
For their part, the commanders are proud to play their “orchestra” of detainees during official visits.
Some ensembles will reach a musical level of quality, despite the difficult conditions of exercise and conservation of instruments.
“We saw and heard this band whose musicians wore golden costumes, sumptuous memories of a dead circus. After that, we decided not to be surprised by anything.”
Bernard-Aldebert, Way of the Cross in 50 stations, 1946
PRIVILEGED STATUS?
The status of musicians in official orchestras has varied over the years.
In the first camps, their workload is added to the daily work in the work teams, the Kommandos. From 1942 on, in order to maintain order and obtain maximum inmate performance, orchestras became indispensable and acquired some privileges.
Their members can devote themselves only to rehearsals temporarily escape transportation to the gas chambers. After February 1945, the orchestras were gradually dissolved and the few privileges disappeared.
Camp money, 1944, Dora-Mittelbau camp Memorial Foundation © Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora 
Liste des membres de l’orchestre de Dachau. Après juin 1944, camp de Dachau. © United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC/coll. Kulisiewicz