Ernst Krenek 1900 – 1991

Biography

Ernst Krenek was born on August 23, 1900, in Vienna, Austria, during a time of great musical innovation and cultural flourishing in the imperial city. Throughout his long and productive life, he established himself as a composer of notable distinction, working across multiple musical genres and styles. His career spanned nearly a century of European and American musical development, allowing him to witness and participate in some of the most transformative periods in twentieth-century composition.

Krenek’s creative journey took him from his native Austria to the United States, where he continued his prolific work as a composer. His willingness to explore new compositional techniques and approaches reflected the evolving nature of modern classical music during his lifetime. He remained engaged with his craft well into his later years, maintaining an active presence in the musical world.

On December 22, 1991, Krenek passed away in Palm Springs, California, at the age of ninety-one, leaving behind a substantial body of musical work. His contributions to composition and his role in twentieth-century music were honored through his burial at Vienna Central Cemetery in Kaiserebersdorf, Austria, returning him to the city of his birth and the cultural landscape that had shaped his artistic vision.