The Nazi persecution of Jewish musicians and composers, along with their categorization of certain musical styles as "degenerate," led to a significant exodus of talent from Germany and occupied territories. Many of these émigrés continued to compose and perform in their adopted countries, often creating works that reflected their experiences of displacement and loss. Their orchestral compositions ranged from overt responses to the Holocaust to more subtle explorations of exile and cultural identity.

Composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Kurt Weill, and Hanns Eisler, who had fled Nazi Germany, incorporated themes of displacement and cultural memory into their orchestral works. Others, like Viktor Ullmann and Pavel Haas, who perished in the camps, left behind compositions that were later discovered and performed. These pieces, along with works by non-Jewish composers responding to the Holocaust, form a diverse body of orchestral music. This repertoire encompasses various styles, from traditional tonal compositions to more experimental approaches, reflecting both the musical trends of the time and the profound impact of historical events on artistic expression.