Soon after completing his monumental Symphony No. 2, the young Ernst Krenek began tackling Symphony No. 3. A third shorter, the piece is also considerably more streamlined in terms of orchestration. The music is more cheerful than driven – perhaps even capricious with all its unexpected changes of mood. Towards the end of the first movement, a popular-style melody makes a fleeting appearance, almost like a grimace. Elsewhere, the music suddenly takes on a dance-like feel, reminiscent of a ballet. The sky then darkens briefly and unexpectedly before the sun reappears. It is an unusual and original piece of music.