Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 03/04/2009, uploaded on 05/29/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Schubert's setting of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Erlkönig is one of his best known Lieder. The poem, written by Goethe in 1782 and intended to be a part of a larger ballad opera, tells the story of a young boy killed by a supernatural being known as the Erlking. It begins with a father carrying his son home on horseback at night. The boy then begins to see and hear things the father does not. While the father attempts to explain away these apparitions by natural causes—a wisp of fog or rustling leaves—the boy becomes increasing frightened. When the boy yells that he has been attacked, the father spurs his horse on to reach the safety of their home faster. Arriving at the home, he realizes his son is dead.

Schubert composed his setting in 1815 and it was published six years later, in 1821, as his op. 1. The four characters of Goethe's poem (Narrator, Father, Boy and the Erlking) are each depicted in a different vocal range and with their own melodic characteristics. The Narrator lies mainly in the middle range of the voice; the Father in the low range; the Son in the high range; and the Erlking is actually distinguished mainly by melody and a change in the piano accompaniment. In addition to Schubert's careful use of vocal ranges, many soloists also try to give each character a different coloration.

The song is instantly recognizable by its famous repeated triplet accompaniment and ghostly bass melody. Besides the technical and artistic demands made of the vocalist, the accompaniment is also quite challenging for the pianist as well. The persistent repeated triplets, depicting the galloping of the horse, changes only when the Erlking appears. The rising and falling arpeggios accompanying his lines increase the ghostly image of his appearance. The pace of the music increases as the father tries desperately to get his son to safety, but comes to a sudden stop when he realizes the child is dead.

Erlkönig has remained one of Schubert's most popular Lieder. Franz Liszt, who admired much of Schubert's music, transcribed the song for piano solo.     Joseph DuBose

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.