What the Heck are They Singing? | Der Erlkönig

In a new video series, we start going through the background and lyrics of the Franz Schubert Lied, Der Erlkönig! We'll go through the very spoopy story from the original Goethe poem, as well as touching on some of the symbolism that Schubert added through the music.

Music used in this video
In the Hall of the Mountain King - Edvard Grieg
Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 13 no. 8 'Pathetique' - I. Grave - Allegro molto e con brio - Beethoven
Waltz in C sharp minor, Op. 64 no. 2 - Chopin
Six Musical Moments, D. 780 III. Allegro moderato in F sharp minor
Preludes Book I - III. Le vent dans la plaine
Der Erlkönig, D. 328 - Schubert

[adolescenterevoltado]

I played the Liszt arrangement for my school talent show. They thought the guy who played ed sheeran was better :(

[ridgemontes]

Hi Lexi – This is fantastic! I’m a huge believer in making these works accessible to a broader audience, and I love this concept for a series. As someone who believes in the channel, I just wanted to share some things that would have helped me learn optimally from the video, and unfortunately, I couldn’t find a non-public way to do so.

(1) At 4:40, when you start talking about the piano accompaniment, it would have been super helpful to have an excerpt from Schubert’s Erlkönig playing instead of Beethoven’s Pathétique. If I wasn’t already familiar with Schubert and Beethoven, I might have gotten confused.

(2) Likewise at 5:06, the video soundtrack (Beethoven) halts to illustrate your point about how the Erlkönig ’s entrance interacts with the piano accompaniment in Schubert lied. If I wasn’t already familiar with the pieces, I might have thought that the music I heard in the video (Beethoven) was the music you were analyzing.

(3) When you were explaining the lyrics, subtitles displaying the lyrics on the screen (in German and English) would have been very helpful for a first-timer trying to follow. I’m a non-musician and visual learner primarily, and I’m probably not the only one.

(4) I find that sung speech sounds very different from spoken speech. If, in addition to your own reading of the German lyrics, you’d also played the corresponding excerpt from Erlkönig, it would have helped me connect the dots between your analysis and the music.

I know I might not be the demo you’re looking for, so clearly take everything I say with a grain of salt. Speaking just for myself, the Erlkönig is a piece that I love hearing and am trying to understand better. I really wouldn’t mind if Erlkönig and excerpts from it were the only soundtrack on the video, and in fact, I would appreciate it. After all, that’s what I came here to learn to learn about, and Erlkönig stands up to repeated listens because it’s awesome.

Just my two cents, and however you end up making use of them (or not at all), I’m rooting for you, and I’m looking forward to seeing the next video!

[vincentvonderlinden]

I imagine that the Erlking and the Sandman would be best buddies.😂

[Mrbird-pwmg]

In the line "meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön", which you translated as "my daugthers will gladly wait on you" probably was meant differently originaly. Whilst "warten" nowaays in german is mostly ussed as "to wait", it can also mean "to look after someone or something". This usage of the word has become old fashioned by now but is probably what Goethe wanted to say.
To the overall interpretation I might add that the son might have a fever dream (that was my teachers interpretation, as this ballade is a standard in german literaure and usually taught in school) that could explain why the father is in such a hurry as he has his sick, feverish child in his arms, maybe he´s trying to get to a doctor or some place where the xon could rest from his illness.

[timm]

Studied this poem in german literature class in college, and listened to the Schubert adaptation. We translated “Kron’ und Scheif” crown and shroud. which may be taking liberties but seems correct since the father sees “Ein Nebelstreif” a streak of mist/fog

[mikewazowski]

Here from Reddit! Great channel, love the

[paranguaricutirimicuaro]

11:26 I've listened this song hundreds of times, I already knew the lyrics, I am almost done memorising them, but the the way you say this things and the music change behind you just made me shiver. Still love it xD

[rahu_]

Nice video!
The word "Schweif" (which you translated with "tail" - and this is the most common translation) most likely refers to the cloak of the Erlkönig. It's a more loose translation.

[Sativa-um]

my first thought was that the child was experiencing death anyway and viewing it in a more fantastical way as kids often do. My other thought goes along with a lot of myths and folklore I think, like a supernatural being crossing over/enticing or bringing a human child back over to their side.

[eonyma]

If an adult king calls a child to go with him, you call the police.

[davidloos]

Thinking about doing this for my Open student recital. Thanks for the video! Subbed!

[ThesisAED]

Wonderful stuff! Subscribed, and looking forward to more. :>

[stirbjoernwesterhever]

Thanx, a great job. The pop music of the 19th century ;-)

[SuchCharm]

She is not butchering German She is slauthering it an absolute massacre AND I LOVE IT great video the tail part was hilarious.


Keep up the good work. Much love.

[StarfishChick]

Glad you posted oh reddit. I love this idea. Great job.

[rogerevans]

"What the heck are they singing?" my thoughts exactly about Elton John. Even though he sings in English, I can only make out about a third of what he is saying.

[BenjaminKallestein]

Great video! You seem very comfortable speaking in front of the camera.

[MustardSkaven]

Well it stands to reason that when the Elf King touches a child, the child dies. That's what he does. He doesn't kidnap them.

[IchiganCS]

Not mentioning Carl Loewe's version? Disappointing. Just kidding, good video.

[livianegidius]

Bunch of mega Mistakes .Erlkonig was supposedly King of elfs, pagan spirits of the woods, rivers, and nature in polytheistic religions of western Europe that existed long before arrival of christianity. Johan Wolfgang had no title von besides his name. Sorry but your analysis sucks. Early christians were afraid of old Gods and one of the oppinion is that they were there to seduce a soul and steel it from person. That lated culminated in Witchunt around Europe in 17 century. When you sing such a classic like Goethe you need to know the language and the background of poem You just translated it and your translation is shallow and light.Learn about old irish, gaelic and norse mythology. This multilayer song is pure masterpiece. I figure that your german, according to your accent is not too good to analyze, nor to fully undestand Goethe s point in this. Sorry Goethe was not american...According to greatest diva in opera music, Jessye Norman you have to know culture and mythology to fully grasp it. this is BAD. I speak both languages, english and german as an expert but they are not my native language. Recommend you to do something else before you jump into Goethe`s poetry.Nice try though