Schubert’s “Erlkonig”

m. 137 – i ii4/2
m. 138 – i iii
m. 139 – V7/iv
m. 140 – iv
m. 141 – iv
m. 142 – iv
m. 143 – bII
m. 144 – vii42/bII
m. 145 – bII
m. 146 – N6
m. 147 – viio7/V V
m. 148 – i

In Schubert’s “Erlkonig” a father is frantically carrying his son on horseback while his young son is seeing the Erlking, a ghost or the devil, is trying to tempt him away. Throughout the song the narration goes between the father, the son and the Erlking. In the beginning the Erlking has a liquid like and soft soothing voice tempting the boy with promises, the boy however refusing begging his father to keep him safe. The bass part depicts the galloping horse, while every once in awhile there is a short ascending scale in the bass as well resembling the hovering of the Erlking over the father and son. In measures 137-148 the music has changed a bit and the Erlking has revealed that he will take the boy by force and he will be hurt. The very first line is “he holds in his arms the groaning child.” The child has fought back and they are almost to their destination. Underneath the text is a foundation building towards a Neapolitan chord with a bII appearing in m. 143, then being tonicized in the next measure. The N6 in the bass part adds a little extra tension and unease before hanging over in the silence before the child’s death is discovered. The N6 then resolves into a more stable V-i perfect authentic cadence to end.
I love how Shubert uses the silence at the end just before performer mourns the child’s death. The recit line “in his arms the child” is almost like a church mass amen, and then ending on “was dead” just before the PAC just makes it so much more final. I have heard this song many times and every time it strikes another chord. The story of a father trying so desperately to protect his son and not knowing what is ailing him, is heart wrenching. I think that the performer has to truly know this story and what he/she is saying, and that they cannot just be a good performer but a true thespian as well. Within this short song there are three different characters. The boy who is scared and hurt, the father who is frightened and worried, and the Erlking who is deceptive and evil. If the audience does not hear all of these characters, I feel like the story may be lost on them. The piano part Is beautiful all on its own, when I first heard it without looking at the words I thought of a horse running. Schubert wrote a magnificent piece with “Erlkonig” and shared a heart touching story as well.