Der Erlkönig

Greetings, music enthusiasts!

My past two posts have included rather pleasant music that I imagined most people would enjoy. However, this week, I decided to share something a bit darker in content: Schubert's Der Erlkönig! Since I am giving a darker taste of classical music, I will provide some incentive by sharing a recording done by yours truly! I recorded this piece at a faculty recital at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2015 with the Dean of Music, Paul Mosteller.

Let's get into the story behind this piece!

Erlking

Der Erlkönig, or "The Erlking," is an art song, based on a poem of the same name by Goethe. The poem was written in 1782 and depicts the story of a young boy who is riding home by horse in his father's arms, is courted and killed by a supernatural demon called the elf king. The text contains a conversation between the frightened boy and his father, and the elf king. German composer, Franz Schubert, set this poem to music in 1815 when he was only 18 years old!

Listen

While listening to the piece listen for the repeated notes in the piano part. This reminds me of a galloping horse as well as the boy's constant fear as the erlking gets closer and closer. Listen for the rising tension--the dynamics, (volume), get louder and louder until the moment the child is killed. And at the end, we get a quiet moment of despair as the father realizes his child is dead.

Enough history for you--let's listen to the piece!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v44WzYJVDfU

Translation

Below is the English translation of the poem:

Who’s riding so late, in the night and wind? It is the father with his child. He grasps the boy in his arm. He holds him securely; he keeps him warm.

My son, why do you hide your face so fearfully? “Father, don’t you see the Erl-King there? The Erl-King with his crown and train?” My son, it’s a streak of mist.

‘You delightful child, come with me! I’ll play wonderful games with you. Colourful flowers grow on the shore. My mother has many fine things.’

“My father, my father, don’t you hear What the Erl-King said to me?” Be calm, stay calm, my son; The wind is stirring the dry leaves.

‘Fine boy, will you come with me? My daughters will wait on you nicely. My daughters will lead the evening dancing And rock and dance and sing to you.’

“My father, my father, don’t you see The Erl-King’s daughters in that gloomy place?” My son, my son, I see it indeed; The old willow gleaming so gray.

‘I love you, I delight in your beautiful shape; And if you are not willing, I shall use force.’ “My father, my father, he has seized me! Erl-King is injuring me!”

The father blanched; he rode swiftly. He held the moaning child in his arms. With great trouble, he reached the courtyard. In his arms, the child was dead.