Listening Journal #11: Schubert Lied

Franz Schubert: Erlkönig

Score: http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/7/7c/IMSLP15041-SchubertD328_Erlk__nig_4th_version.pdf

This lied comes from the Danish legend of Erlkönig which has been translated into 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 schoene Spiele spiele ich mit dir,
Manch bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand,
Mein Mutter hat manch guelden Gewand."

Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hoerest du nicht,
Was Erlenkoenig mir leise verspricht?
Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind,
In duerren Blattern saeuselt der Wind.

"Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn'?
Meine Töchter sollen dich warten shoen.
Meine Töchter fuehren den nachtlichen Rehn,
Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein."

Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehtst du nicht dort,
Erlkönigs Toechter am duesteren Ort?
Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh' es genau,
Es sheinen die alten Weiden so grau.

"Ich liebe dich, mich reitzt deine shoene Gestalt,
Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt!"
Vater, mein Vater! Jetzt fasst er mich an!
Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!

Der Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,
Er haelt in den Armen das aechzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Muehe und Not,
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.

Who rides there so late through the night dark and drear?
The father it is, with his infant so dear;
He holdeth the boy tightly clasp'd in his arm,
He holdeth him safely, he keepeth him warm.

"My son, wherefore seek'st thou thy face thus to hide?"
"Look, father, the Elf King is close by our side!
Dost see not the Elf King, with crown and with train?"
"My son, 'tis the mist rising over the plain."

"Oh, come, thou dear infant! oh come thou with me!
For many a game I will play there with thee;
On my beach, lovely flowers their blossoms unfold,
My mother shall grace thee with garments of gold."

"My father, my father, and dost thou not hear
The words that the Elf King now breathes in mine ear?"
"Be calm, dearest child, thy fancy deceives;
the wind is sighing through withering leaves."

"Wilt go, then, dear infant, wilt go with me there?
My daughters shall tend thee with sisterly care
My daughters by night on the dance floor you lead,
They'll cradle and rock thee, and sing thee to sleep."

"My father, my father, and dost thou not see,
How the Elf King is showing his daughters to me?"
"My darling, my darling, I see it aright,
'Tis the aged grey willows deceiving thy sight."

"I love thee, I'm charm'd by thy beauty, dear boy!
And if thou aren't willing, then force I'll employ."
"My father, my father, he seizes me fast,
For sorely the Elf King has hurt me at last."

The father now gallops, with terror half wild,
He holds in his arms the shuddering child;
He reaches his farmstead with toil and dread,
The child in his arms lies motionless, dead.

Use of Piano Accompaniment and Melodic Qualities 

• This lied was written for piano and voice
• Introduction of the piece is piano 
• Sets the tone in a minor key (G minor)
• Repeating triplets in 12/8 time
• Rapid tempo (allegro or vivace)
• Is used to depict the galloping horse 
• When the Erlkönig tries to persuade the son to go away with it, the piano theme (galloping horse) fades away, and transitions into the relative major (B flat Major)
• Many key changes throughout the melody 
• B flat Major (1:40) --> B minor (2:05) --> C Major (2:30) --> C# minor (2:45)--> D minor (3:10) --> E flat major (3:15)
• Key changes are chromatic, creating suspense 
• Piano cadences in G minor at end (Authentic Cadence)