Erlkönig (2022) - Arranged for Euphonium Trio
Franz Schubert’s well-known lied is based off of the poem Erlkönig by Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe. The story depicts a father riding through a forest on horseback carrying his son home. The son repeatedly complains of the Erlkönig or Elf King who is whispering to him, trying to take him away, but the father suggests what the son is experiencing is only the wind and “old grey willow gleaming”. By the time the father realizes what is truly happening, it is too late. The son dies in his arms, having been taken by the Erlkönig.
As a self-proclaimed fan of horror and all things spooky, I have always adored this composition for its ominous tone, story, and sound, as well as its use of text painting. Here, I have arranged Erlkönig for three euphoniums. The iconic eighth note triplets originally in the piano part representing the galloping horse are present throughout the entire work, constantly being passed around between all three euphoniums. The roles of father, son, and Erlkönig are also passed around the ensemble, with expressive markings indicating which character is speaking.
Duration: Approx. 4 minutes
Difficulty: 3/5
Format: PDF Score and parts (Euphoniums 1, 2, 3)
Copyright © 2022 Ian Lester