Franz Schubert: Erlkönig

Music by Franz Schubert. Poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (see below for translation).

Daniel Norman - Tenor
Sholto Kynoch - Piano
Jeremy Hamway-Bidgood - Director & designer

The Elfking

Who rides so late through the windy night?
It is the father and his child.
He holds the boy,
Warm and safe.

Son, why do you hide your face in fear?
Father, do you not see the Elfking?
With his crown and train?
Son, it's just the mist.

Come with me, lovely child
We'll play games
There are flowers on the beach and
My mother has golden clothes

Father, can't you hear
What the Elfking is promising me?
Be calm, my boy --
It's only the wind in the leaves.

Lovely boy, will you come with me?
My daughters will wait on you
My daughters will sing and dance for you
and rock you to sleep.

Father, do you not see
The Elfking's daughters there?
Son, it's the old willows shining
In the moonlight.

I love you -- I'm aroused by your beautiful form
And if you won't come, I will take you by force
Father, father, he has grabbed me.
The Elfking has hurt me.

The father shudders. He rides fast,
the groaning boy in his arms,
Anxious, he reaches the farm.
In his arms, the boy is dead.

(Translation by Daniel Norman)

_______

[da]

Solution: Get a pianist who can play faster so that the horse can reach the courtyard faster before the elf king takes the child's soul.

[brandonrittenour]

There is something in the way the son cries out "Mein Vater, mein Vater!", each time becoming more desperate, that cuts right to the heart. It's such a moving piece!

[thespanishinquisition]

Mine Father: The Elfking isn’t real. It can’t hurt you.
The Elfking:

[sebastianboeddinghaus]

The "Mein Vater! Mein Vater!" getting higher everytime is chilling

[Prenitjain]

I must say the animation style is really underappreciated in the comments.

[anyjen]

So, either this is a story about supernatural elements stealing a child's life and his father being unable to see them or protect him from them, or a terribly ill and delirious child suffering from hallucinations and dying before his father could get help. Either way it's horrifying.

[lolerishype]

"He holds the kid tightly in his arms"

The kid: Sitting in the back seat without a hoursebelt

[michelle-ctnt]

It’s 1 Am and I spontaneously remembered this from my freshman year of high school and had to see if I could find it. I got here by searching “German song about being chased by a ghost that goes ‘Mein Vater Mein Vater.” I’m very proud of myself

[saintroddy]

Elf King: Come live with me, little boy!

*BUNDESPOLIZEI! OPEN UP!*

[amadeusjustinn]

Everybody gangsta til the Elf-King says "so brauch ich Gewalt"

[jsswift]

I played this as a pianist and the singer insisted this was about child rape and a Dad that wouldn't listen. I understand you could interpret it this way, but boy oh boy is it much more fun and dramatic and musically more engaging when you perform this with the idea the child is dying and hallucinating, or that there is an actual Elf king sucking the life out of the child,

[poyrazcoskun]

The chills i get when:
1. The first notes play
2. “So brauche ich Gewalt”
3. “War tot” and the chords at the end

Schubert was a genius

[audeobellicus]

I like how the singer can clearly contrast between singing tones for
Narrator, Father, Son, and Erlkonig

[Reiscakee]

"Mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt."

Dude it doesn't matter if you're the elf king, dating kids is illegal.

[xcqtkcg]

"I have not broken your heart - you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine."

[shunnoysarkar]

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 gehn?
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 den Armen das ächzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not;
In seinen Armen, das Kind war tot.

[gabriellegraves]

I don't even speak this language and this gives me chills.

[Tommy-qmzo]

My favorite thing about this piece is the singer’s vocal range and how he portrays each character. The son, given his situation, is frantic with fear, and the performer’s tenor voice in his parts give off that emotion. The father’s bass is sturdy, yet also seems frantic, as if the father knows what lies behind him and is trying to convince himself it isn’t real. And lastly, the Elfking’s voice is so rich and melodious. It’s conniving and so persuading, perfectly terrifying and beautiful.

[aidsaidsaidsaids]

I remember watching this video in my 2nd grade music class and having nightmares for weeks. It still creeps me out to this day, and I will never forgive that teacher. Despite this song sending chills up my spine, I still love the music and story it portrays. Truly a masterpiece.

[nkftnnz]

My son, why do you hide your face in fear?
Father, do you not see the Elf-king?
The Elf-king out for my fingers in that piano?
My son, it is a page of sheet music.