Schubert/ Ernst: “Der Erlkönig”, Grand caprice Op. 26 for Solo Violin｜Eimi Wakui
Composed in 1854, near the end of his life, Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1814- 1865)’s Grand Caprice is not merely a transcription but a dramatic reimagining of Schubert’s song. A celebrated virtuoso often seen as Paganini’s successor, Ernst aimed not just to astonish, but to tell a story—through sound alone.
A single violinist takes the stage—not just to perform, but to act. This piece is the culmination of an incredible challenge. The original work is Schubert’s famous lied “Der Erlkönig,” based on Goethe’s haunting poem. A father rides through the night with his feverish child, who hears the eerie voice of the Erlking—a spirit of death—whispering in the shadows. Through the tension and fear of this journey, the voices of four characters—the narrator, father, child, and Erlking—are brought to life through a single violin.
This Grand Caprice is not merely an arrangement. Ernst sought to evoke the desperate gallop of the horse, the breathing, and the fear—all with sound alone. The techniques he employed are almost superhuman. Left-hand pizzicato brings forth the father’s firm, authoritative voice, while artificial harmonics create the eerie, ethereal whisper of the Erlking. Triple and quadruple stops allow multiple characters to speak simultaneously, and rapid bowing conveys the galloping horse and the building tension.
This piece is often described as “one of the most difficult violin works ever written,” but its true value is not just in the display of technique. The real brilliance lies in the performer’s ability to portray all four characters and convey the story in a deeply theatrical way, all while playing a single instrument. The violinist must not only master these extraordinary technical feats but also act through the music—seamlessly shifting between characters, emotions, and dramatic moments.
A single violin is used to depict the human voice, emotions, and fear. This is truly “opera for solo violin.” Listen closely, and you’ll feel the breath of the characters, their fears, and their struggles, all unfolding in this chilling and tragic tale.
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