Identification of the Artwork
Erlkönig is the artistic origin of art, which is in the form of a song that Franz Schubert wrote. The work was written in 1815 and is an example of a work of art of the Romantic era in musical art (Dottore, 2017). At the same time, the composition is not invented from scratch but is based on the work of the same name written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Since Schubert spent most of his life in Vienna, Austria, he created this work there.
Composition and Technique
The piece Erlkönig was created to be performed in solo voice with piano accompaniment. Schubert used the strophic method of creation since the melody repeats itself for each new verse of the poem. This does not create a feeling of monotony as the intensity and speed increase, which correlates with how the narrative develops (Dottore, 2017). To better convey the drama of the work, Schubert used some techniques of dynamic contrasts. They made the piece richer through quick tempo changes and different melodies when introducing the characters.
Sensory Experience
This work affects the senses through its musical motives that are successfully combined with voice performance. If I had a chance to personally hear the performance of Erlkönig, I would be able to experience the exciting feelings that the vocalist conveys. Feelings could be used to feel better how the vocalist manages to convey the voices of all the characters in the work. At the same time, throughout the work, emotions could change from calm at the beginning to gradually increased tension at the end when the climax is the most exciting.
Interpretation and Personal Reflection
The work in question can be interpreted differently, as it can evoke different emotions in people. The musical accompaniment of Goethe’s verse enhances the effect of unrest and a crumbling sense of security. Many aspects of Erlkönig convey supernatural aspects of fear and the certainty of the events. I think the creator created this work to convey to the listeners his impressions of Goethe’s verse. In addition, the composition can evoke a strong emotional response from listeners, conveyed through the successful combination of musical and vocal aspects.
Reference
Dottore. (2017). Franz Schubert – Erlkönig (Sheet music and lyrics) [Video]. YouTube. Web.