Schubert-Erlkonig arr. Primatic (SP)-B/V/C/X/3-4M/P/VX or EU

The Erlking (Erlkönig) is a German Art Song composed by Franz Schubert. Its text is taken from a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and it illustrates how Romantic composers were fascinated with the supernatural. The vocal soloist in the piece must represent four different characters from the poem: the narrator, the child, the father, and the Erlking. The notoriously difficult piano accompaniment with its rapid, continuous triplet pattern translates well to mallet keyboard instruments, and the ensemble as whole helps drive the piece from its tense opening to its frenzied, and ultimately tragic, conclusion.

This version of Erlkönig has been transposed to F Minor (down from the original G Minor) to better suit a soloist with a lower range. It is recommended that the vocalist be amplified to avoid getting overpowered by the volume of the percussion instruments. This may not be necessary if you use euphonium instead.

Additional Information:

• Number of players: 10
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Instrumentation:
• Player 1: Baritone voice or euphonium
• Player 2: Glockenspiel, chimes
• Player 3: Xylophone
• Player 4: Vibraphone
• Player 5: Marimba 1 (4 octave*)
• Player 6: Marimba 2 (4 octave)
• Player 7: Marimba 3 (4 octave)
• Player 8: Marimba 4 (5 octave*)
• Player 9: Triangle, castanets, Mark tree, bass drum
• Player 10: Sleigh bells, small & large crash cymbals, suspended cymbal, tam tam

*Marimba 1 & 4 may share one 5 octave instrument.