Horizons Circled

Horizons Circled: Reflections on My Music captures Ernst Krenek’s profound insights on his artistic journey, articulated through a series of reflective essays. Originating from his time as a Regents Lecturer at the University of California, San Diego, in 1970, these essays emerged from four informal lectures that Krenek delivered while surrounded by friends and admirers. Revisiting five decades of creativity, Krenek examined his multifaceted career as a composer, teacher, and writer against the backdrop of dramatic historical and cultural shifts. These lectures, later revised into the essays in this volume, offer a rich tapestry of his experiences across arts, education, politics, and the trials of exile.

The title, Horizons Circled, echoes one of Krenek's significant compositions and aptly reflects the expansive scope of his reflections. The essays delve into his personal and professional milestones, illustrating the resilience and adaptability that characterized his approach to modernism and experimentation in music. Beyond a simple autobiography, the book highlights Krenek’s role as a guiding force for the avant-garde music department at UCSD, a legacy evident in his influence on colleagues and students alike, including notable composers Will Ogdon and Robert Erickson. Krenek’s narrative resonates as a testament to the enduring power of creativity and intellectual exploration in the face of evolving artistic landscapes.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.