Krenek: 4 Hopkins Songs - 2 Zeitlieder - 3 Verhaeren Songs - Nordenstrom: Zeit XXIV - Ernst Krenek

Immerse yourself in the intricate world of chamber music with Ernst Krenek's captivating album, released on September 21, 1979, under the Baroque Records label. This 40-minute collection showcases Krenek's mastery of the genre, featuring a diverse set of songs that span various themes and moods.

The album opens with "Four Songs Op.112," a quartet of pieces that explore the nuances of peace, patience, and the beauty of music itself, culminating in a serene "Moonrise." Following this, "Zwei Zeitlieder Op. 215" offers a reflective interlude with its two songs, "Kennst du den Augenblick" and "Hab Haende," each a poignant exploration of time and human experience.

The album then shifts to "Three Songs Op. 30a," inspired by the poetry of Verhaeren, with "La Barque," "Un soir," and "L'heure mauvaise" each painting vivid sonic landscapes. The album concludes with "Zeit XXIV," performed by Renata Pandula, adding a unique and captivating finale to the collection.

This album is a testament to Krenek's versatility and depth as a composer, offering a rich and rewarding listening experience for both longtime fans and newcomers to his work. The collaboration with Gladys Nordenstrom and Neva Pilgrim adds an extra layer of richness to the album, making it a standout release in the chamber music genre.

Ernst Krenek, born in Vienna in 1900, was a prolific and versatile Austrian-American composer whose career spanned over seven decades, reflecting the major musical trends of the 20th century. Krenek's oeuvre is a testament to his insatiable curiosity and innovative spirit, encompassing styles from neoromantic tonality and neoclassicism to atonality, serialism, and even jazz influences. He was a prominent exponent of the serial technique and wrote a significant number of works using the twelve-tone system. Krenek's contributions to the piano concerto repertoire are particularly notable, standing alongside those of Bartók and Prokofiev. Beyond his compositional work, Krenek was also a prolific writer, penning several influential books on music. His journey took him from Vienna and Berlin to various universities in the US and Canada, where he taught and continued to compose until his passing in 1991. Krenek's music offers a rich and diverse sonic landscape, inviting exploration and discovery.