I remember when I was a mere fourth-grader this one time my elementary school music teacher had to use the room of one of the school’s least favorite teachers because the music teacher’s room was being used for some activity. That classroom smelled bad – it wasn’t horrible but it was unpleasant.
Said music teacher was planning on teaching us about Franz Schubert’s Erlkönig and he did it even though he had to improvise with the new room’s equipment.
The music teacher proceeded to have us listen to “Erlkönig” while showing us an English guide/translation of the piece.
I remember everyone complaining about the bad smell of the room but still being extremely shocked (as in audible gasps) during that last line of the song where the child dies.
Therefore, I associate “Erlkönig” with the slightly off, somewhat musty, stale, and sweaty smell of that classroom and honestly that’s probably what an erlking smells like.
I also associate the piece with me and my classmates being extremely shocked so there’s that.
Originally posted March 16, 2019 on WordPress
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