"E" is for Erlking

One of my favorite songs by Sarah Brightman is "Figlio Perduto" ("Lost Son").

After reading the descriptions of the Erlking, I wondered if her song wasn't based on the legend. It is.

According to Finlay Cowan, in his book, Incredible Characters, the Erlking is a “malevolent spirit of German origin, whose aim is to whisk children away to an uncertain doom by offering them treats and a visit to his palace.”

Goethe’s poem, “Der Erlkonig” is a well-known poem based on the legend and has inspired many writers and musicians, including Jim Butcher, Philip K. Dick, and E Nomine (a German musical project).

If you’re interested in learning more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlking (information about the Erlking)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Erlk%C3%B6nig#In_popular_culture (Goethe’s poem)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuo6PUeyHmA (Sarah Brightman singing “Figlio Perduto”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OexgtEnsWs (E Nomine’s “Die Schwarzen Reiter”, influenced by Goethe’s poem)