Imagine a story in which instead of everything a King touches turning to gold, the things simply die. In Franz Schubert’s Erlkönig, a musical work based on a poem by Goethe, the legend goes that anyone touched by the Elf King dies. There are many aspects that help contribute to the work itself and the story heard throughout the piece. The composition and surrounding stylistic era influenced the work, the composer himself added touches of his own personal style, and the piece helped to represent the Elf King legend. While there are many components that contribute to the composition of Erlkönig, the origin and form of the piece are a major part of the story behind the music. As an art song, Erlkönig works to exemplify the poem for a solo voice
