‘Travelbook’ at Krenek Fest : Music: Michael Ingham and Albert Dominguez revive the 1935 song cycle at Occidental College.

Written in the year he turned 35, Ernst Krenek’s “Reisebuch aus dem Osterreichischen Alpen” is both an homage to the past and a down payment on future achievement.

At that time (1935), the young composer had long since discovered serialism, had already written a so-called jazz opera that was regularly being performed all over Europe, and occupied a place on the cutting edge of Viennese musical contemporaneity.

Still, he apparently went seeking his roots in this song cycle, which he called “Travelbook From the Austrian Alps.”

In recalling briefly the styles of Schubert, Brahms, Mahler and at least two Strausses, Krenek refound the Heimat and Vaterland of his search. He probably knew he was also bidding farewell to them; within two years, he had moved to the United States, where he has spent the years since.

Michael Ingham and Albert Dominguez, two acknowledged Krenek specialists, revived the “Travelbook” and its many charms Saturday night at Occidental College.

Their intermissionless performance had been scheduled for mid-April, but was postponed due to illness. Consequently, this minirecital--lasting just 60 minutes--became the close to the seasonlong series of Krenek concerts sponsored by the Southwest Chamber Music Society.

Except that baritone Ingham seemed to be in less than best voice, the reading emerged potent and affecting. The singer rode the musical line without faltering, delivered words clearly and affectionately, and seemed to know where the poet (Krenek himself) was going in all moments.

Pianist Dominguez played the strongest of collaborative roles, underlining textual content authoritatively, setting moods and holding thoughts.

Alas, the sparse audience could not share the performers’ knowledge.

Texts for only the first 10 of the 20 songs were handed out; otherwise, there was no printed program of any kind. Even the tickets to this event were not for it, but for an earlier one. If, as has been said, Southwest Chamber Music Society is a Mom and Pop organization, Mom and Pop were clearly out of town for the weekend.