Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe & Franz Schubert

The Erlkönig

            Original German                                     

Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind; Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm, Er faßt ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm. "Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?" — "Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Den Erlenkönig mit Kron und Schweif?" — "Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif." "Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir! Gar schöne Spiele spiel' ich mit dir; Manch' bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand, Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand." — "Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht, Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?" — "Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind; In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind." — "Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehen? Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön; Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn, Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein." — "Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?" — "Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau: Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. —" "Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt; Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt." — "Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an! Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!" — Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind, Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind, Erreicht den Hof mit Müh' und Not; In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.

Who rides, so late, through night and wind? It is the father with his child. He has the boy well in his arm He holds him safely, he keeps him warm. "My son, why do you hide your face so anxiously?" "Father, do you not see the Alder king? The Alder king with crown and tail?" "My son, it's a wisp of fog." "You dear child, come, go with me! Very lovely games I'll play with you; Some colourful flowers are on the shore, My mother has some golden robes." "My father, my father, and don't you hear What Alder king quietly promises me?" "Be calm, stay calm, my child; The wind is rustling through withered leaves." "Do you want to come with me, pretty boy? My daughters shall wait on you finely; My daughters will lead the nightly dance, And rock and dance and sing you to sleep." "My father, my father, and don't you see there Alder king's daughters in the gloomy place?" "My son, my son, I see it clearly: There shimmer the old willows so grey." "I love you, your beautiful form entices me; And if you're not willing, then I will use force." "My father, my father, he's grabbing me now! Alder king has done me some harm!" It horrifies the father; he swiftly rides on, He holds the moaning child in his arms, Reaches the farm with trouble and hardship; In his arms, the child was dead. (Wikepedia.com)

Goethe wrote this poem in 1782 about a strange mythical creature. In 1815, Franz Schubert took inspiration from this poem and composed his Lied for soloist and piano. “According to a friend’s account, Schubert was reading a book of Goethe’s poetry, pacing back and forth. Suddenly, he sprang to a piano and, as fast as he could write, set Goethe’s entire ballad to music” (qtd. in Wright). 

Schubert begins the piece in a minor key with the right hand playing fast repetitive chords that give the motion of the galloping horse. This quick repetitive movement continues throughout the entire accompaniment to give a sense of urgency. Although Schubert incorporates the words from the text, his musical accompaniment sets the scene. The poem has four characters: the narrator, the father, the son, and the Erlkönig. In order to portray these distinct characters, Schubert, as well as the singer’s vocal technique, creates specific emotions and traits for each character. The Father sings in a low strong voice that is steady and reassuring, the son sings in a loud, urgent cry, and the Erlkönig sings in a major key and higher register to show that he is seducing and tempting the child to come with him. The Erlkönig’s music continues in a playful manner, but the music changes to minor and expresses spite when the Erlkönig loses patience and begins to threaten the son. The pace of the horse, and subsequentlyaccompaniment to depict the silence as the father realizes the son has died.