Composer

:

Carl Loewe

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

3:36

Carl Loewe's "Ballads (3), Op. 1, No. 3, Erlkönig, Op. 1/3" is a musical composition that was composed in 1818. The piece premiered in Berlin in the same year. The composition is a setting of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem "Erlkönig," which tells the story of a father and his son who are riding through the forest at night. The son is frightened by the Erlking, a supernatural being who tries to lure him away. The composition is divided into three movements, each of which corresponds to a different character in the poem. The first movement is sung by the father, who tries to reassure his son that the rustling of the leaves and the howling of the wind are nothing to fear. The music is slow and somber, with a mournful melody that reflects the father's concern for his son. The second movement is sung by the son, who is terrified by the Erlking's voice. The music is fast and frenzied, with a driving rhythm that reflects the son's fear and panic. The melody is high-pitched and dissonant, with sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics that create a sense of chaos and confusion. The third movement is sung by the Erlking, who tries to lure the son away with promises of pleasure and power. The music is seductive and hypnotic, with a sinuous melody that weaves in and out of the accompaniment. The rhythm is slow and steady, with a pulsing beat that creates a sense of inevitability and doom. Overall, "Ballads (3), Op. 1, No. 3, Erlkönig, Op. 1/3" is a powerful and evocative composition that captures the drama and intensity of Goethe's poem. Loewe's use of melody, rhythm, and dynamics creates a vivid musical landscape that brings the story to life.

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