Ernst Krenek's compositions reflect almost comprehensively the musical history of the 20th century, from the end of the late romantic period through expressionism, twelve tone and series techniques to electronic music and certain elements of aleatoric composition.

Early period

• First string quartet op. 6
• Second symphony op. 12
• "Der Sprung über den Schatten" op. 17 (comic opera in three acts)
• Third string quartet, op. 20
• "Orpheus und Eurydike" op. 21 (opera in three acts)
• First violin concerto op. 29
• "Jonny spielt auf" op. 45 (opera in two parts)
  

Middle period

• O Lacrymosa op. 48
• "Leben des Orest" op. 60 (opera in five acts)
• Reisebuch aus den österreichischen Alpen op. 62
• Durch die Nacht op. 67
• "Kehraus um St. Stephan" op. 66 (satire with music in two parts)
• "Karl V." op. 73 (stage play with music in two parts)
• Sixth string quartet op. 78
• Third Pianosonata op. 92/4
  
• Lamentatio Jeremiae Prophetae op. 93
  
• Ballad of the Railraods op. 98
  
• Santa Fé Timetable op. 102 (for mixed choir)
  
• Symphonic Elegy op. 105
  
• "Medea" op. 129 (dramatic monologue for mezzo soprano and orchestra)
  
• "Pallas Athene weint" op. 144 (opera in three acts)
  
• "Sestina" op. 161 (for soprano and orchestra)
  

Late period

• "Chrysomallos" or "Der goldene Bock" op. 186 (opera in four acts)
  
• Horizon Circled op. 196
  
• "Sardakai" op. 206 (opera in eleven scenes)
  
• Late Harvest op. 218
  
• "The Dissembler" op. 229 (monologue for baritone and chamber orchestra)
  
• Eighth string quartet op. 233
  
• String trio op. 237
  
• Opus sine nomine op. 238 (for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra)
  

Several titles from his abundant literary works should also be mentioned: in German, "Selbstdarstellung" (1948), "Zwölfton-Kontrapunktstudien" (1952), "Zur Sprache gebracht", "Im Zweifelsfalle" (1984), "Prosa, Dramen, Verse" (1965) and, in English, "Music here and now" (1939), "Johannes Ockeghem" (1952), "Horizons circled" (1974) and "Im Atem der Zeit" (1998, Krenek's memoirs).