“Der Erlkönig, D 328” by Franz Schubert [1815] performed by Hermann Prey (v) and Helmut Deutsch (p) [1982]
Yesterday I posted a gorgeous but depressing melodié by Gabriel Fauré. A couple weeks ago, just before my grandfather’s funeral, I posted a Walt Whitman poem set to music in a similar style. Though the name varied in different regions, both belong to the sub-genre of concert music we call art song (creative, I know). They first became popular in pre-united Germany, after initial success by Mozart and Beethoven.
Called Lieder, German art songs flourished in the 19th century, largely on the strength of Franz Schubert’s 600 examples. As Frank Bridge did with Whitman, so Schubert did with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The great German poet served as an inspiration (and provided the text) for 80 of Schubert’s Lieder.
Goethe’s poem about the Erlkönig, a mythological forest spirit who preys on children, is tragically dramatic. Schubert’s musical setting immediately drives home the horror and places the audience directly on horseback with the terrorized son and his father. When “Erlkönig” was first performed and published a few years after its composition in 1815, it put young Schubert on the map. The song became one of the most popular concert pieces of the 19th century, despite challenging parts for both soloist and accompanist. I’m tired just thinking about the poor pianist! (Text and translation below via)
Der Erlkönig
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.
Literal English translation:
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 Erl king?
The Erl king with crown and tail?”
“My son, it’s a wisp of fog.”
“You lovely child, come, go with me!
Many a beautiful game I’ll play with you;
Many colourful flowers are on the shore,
My mother has many golden robes.”
“My father, my father, and don’t you hear
What Erl king is quietly promising me?”
“Be calm, stay calm, my child;
The wind is rustling through withered leaves.”
“Do you want to come with me, dear boy?
My daughters shall wait on you fine;
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
Erl king’s daughters in the gloomy place?”
“My son, my son, I see it clearly:
The old willows they shimmer so grey.”
“I love you, your beautiful form entices me;
And if you’re not willing, I shall use force.”
“My father, my father, he’s grabbing me now!
Erl king has done me some harm!”
The father shudders; he swiftly rides on,
He holds the moaning child in his arms,
is hardly able to reach the farm;
In his arms, the child was dead.
