Ernst Krenek By: Mark Vanderzanden. The Life and Times of Krenek Born on August 23, 1900 in Vienna, Austria Born on August 23, 1900 in Vienna, Austria.

Ernst KrenekErnst Krenek

By: Mark VanderzandenBy: Mark Vanderzanden

The Life and Times of The Life and Times of KrenekKrenek

Born on August 23, 1900 in Vienna, AustriaBorn on August 23, 1900 in Vienna, Austria Piano lessons at age 6, began composingPiano lessons at age 6, began composing 1916: Started studying composition with 1916: Started studying composition with

Franz Schreker (emphasis on counterpoint)Franz Schreker (emphasis on counterpoint) 1920’s: period of musical expressionism1920’s: period of musical expressionism 1921-1924: musically productive (18 1921-1924: musically productive (18

works)works) 1921: First String Quartet – compositional 1921: First String Quartet – compositional

abilities first emerge; dissonances; contractabilities first emerge; dissonances; contract

1923: enormous uproar caused by the 1923: enormous uproar caused by the premiere of his Second Symphonypremiere of his Second Symphony

1925: visited Paris and wrote an opera 1925: visited Paris and wrote an opera called called Jonny spielt aufJonny spielt auf, which initiated , which initiated what he called his neo-Romantic period what he called his neo-Romantic period (success)(success)

1926-1928: 3 one-act operas written1926-1928: 3 one-act operas written 1928: settled in Vienna and married Hass1928: settled in Vienna and married Hass 1929: New 12-note compositional 1929: New 12-note compositional

technique emerged in a piece written on technique emerged in a piece written on commission from the Vienna Staatsopercommission from the Vienna Staatsoper

1933: finished 1933: finished Karl VKarl V, the first 12-note , the first 12-note opera; never performed in Vienna due to opera; never performed in Vienna due to political events; Catholicism vs. Nazismpolitical events; Catholicism vs. Nazism

1938: Krenek emigrated to America when 1938: Krenek emigrated to America when the Nazi’s annexed Austriathe Nazi’s annexed Austria

1938-1950: taught at several universities 1938-1950: taught at several universities throughout the nation (including Hamline)throughout the nation (including Hamline)

1950-1956: Back in Europe; many major 1950-1956: Back in Europe; many major works were commissioned during this works were commissioned during this periodperiod

1955-1956: 1955-1956: Spiritus intelligentiae, sanctusSpiritus intelligentiae, sanctus 1960: received multiple honors 1960: received multiple honors

recognizing his musical accomplishmentsrecognizing his musical accomplishments

1966: moved to Palm Springs, CA (UCSD)1966: moved to Palm Springs, CA (UCSD) Here he composed more major works Here he composed more major works

including: orchestral works, soprano and including: orchestral works, soprano and ensemble, electronic works, and 2 TV ensemble, electronic works, and 2 TV operasoperas

More relaxed compositional style during More relaxed compositional style during last years of life, but 12-tone and serial last years of life, but 12-tone and serial systems were still usedsystems were still used

Opus sine nomineOpus sine nomine (1980-1988) was his (1980-1988) was his final large workfinal large work

Died on December 22, 1991 in Palm Died on December 22, 1991 in Palm SpringsSprings

In ParadisumIn Paradisum

An antiphon sung at Catholic funeral An antiphon sung at Catholic funeral services, typically as the body is services, typically as the body is being carried out of the church to the being carried out of the church to the cemeterycemetery

Sometimes used in the Palm Sunday Sometimes used in the Palm Sunday processionprocession

TextText

May the angels lead you into paradise;May the angels lead you into paradise;

May the martyrs welcome you upon your May the martyrs welcome you upon your arrival,arrival,

and lead you into the holy city of Jerusalemand lead you into the holy city of Jerusalem

May a choir of angels welcome you,May a choir of angels welcome you,

and, with poor Lazarus of old,and, with poor Lazarus of old,

may you have eternal rest.may you have eternal rest.

Analyzing the piece Analyzing the piece poieticallypoietically

Motet composed in 1946Motet composed in 1946 Technically was a free creation of the Technically was a free creation of the

composer; given to St. Kate’s as a gift composer; given to St. Kate’s as a gift after a memorial mass was held there after a memorial mass was held there commemorating his father’s deathcommemorating his father’s death

Krenek requested it be sung by the Krenek requested it be sung by the choir so it was first created by the choir so it was first created by the voices of the choir and an voices of the choir and an accompanying pianoaccompanying piano

Franz Schreker had an influence on Franz Schreker had an influence on Krenek’s early work (counterpoint)Krenek’s early work (counterpoint)

Krenek then developed his own 12-Krenek then developed his own 12-tone system (1929) that was used tone system (1929) that was used much more oftenmuch more often

World War II took the life of his father, World War II took the life of his father, whose memorial mass was the reason whose memorial mass was the reason why the piece was composedwhy the piece was composed

Analyzing the piece at a neutral Analyzing the piece at a neutral levellevel

Highest pitches of the piece are located on the Highest pitches of the piece are located on the name Lazarus – (symbolic correspondence)name Lazarus – (symbolic correspondence)

Volume stays constant until the end of the Volume stays constant until the end of the piece when it starts to get quieter (symbolic)piece when it starts to get quieter (symbolic)

Biggest variation of the duration comes at the Biggest variation of the duration comes at the end of the piece, especially on the word end of the piece, especially on the word “requiem” as the piece comes to a close“requiem” as the piece comes to a close

As far as timbre, only female voices are used in As far as timbre, only female voices are used in this particular recording of the piecethis particular recording of the piece

The musical texture of this piece is The musical texture of this piece is polyphonicpolyphonic

The complexity and rich sound of polyphony The complexity and rich sound of polyphony signifies the importance of the text and the signifies the importance of the text and the burial mass in generalburial mass in general

Musical form is variation since the pitch, Musical form is variation since the pitch, volume, and duration all vary at some point volume, and duration all vary at some point in the piece. This form supports the text set in the piece. This form supports the text set and the ritual setting since the dynamics and the ritual setting since the dynamics emphasize the underlying ideas and themes emphasize the underlying ideas and themes of the piece.of the piece.

Unique harmonic structure and many Unique harmonic structure and many dissonances throughout the piece (not heard dissonances throughout the piece (not heard on this recording)on this recording)

In ParadisumIn Paradisum was one of Krenek’s minor was one of Krenek’s minor works – a short motetworks – a short motet

This piece didn’t advance the musical This piece didn’t advance the musical art of the composer; rather it only used art of the composer; rather it only used some of the techniques he had already some of the techniques he had already adapted – particularly the use of adapted – particularly the use of dissonancesdissonances

This piece is sung both at funeral This piece is sung both at funeral masses and in concert settings.masses and in concert settings.

Analyzing the piece Analyzing the piece esthesicallyesthesically

Generally, the world esteems Krenek as Generally, the world esteems Krenek as a composer and a writera composer and a writer

From my visit to St. Kate’s and interview From my visit to St. Kate’s and interview with Dr. Patricia Connors (music chair), I with Dr. Patricia Connors (music chair), I got the impression that they hold this got the impression that they hold this piece in such high regards since it was piece in such high regards since it was written specifically for the collegewritten specifically for the college

However, during the 1930’s Krenek’s However, during the 1930’s Krenek’s work often contained social implications work often contained social implications that caused him to become increasingly that caused him to become increasingly unpopularunpopular

After After Karl VKarl V, Krenek avoided controversy , Krenek avoided controversy by leaving politics out of his workby leaving politics out of his work

I think the meaning of the text is I think the meaning of the text is significant and emphasizes the main significant and emphasizes the main themes of the piecethemes of the piece

The music was composed in such a The music was composed in such a way that it highlights the text and way that it highlights the text and also helps to emphasize these also helps to emphasize these themesthemes

Finally, the two together make for a Finally, the two together make for a meaningful and significant piece for meaningful and significant piece for use in the ritual setting of funeral use in the ritual setting of funeral masses.masses.