erlking

[ url-king ]

/ ˈɜrlˌkɪŋ /

a spirit or personified natural power that works mischief, especially to children.

Origin of erlking

1790–1800; < German Erlkönig alder (tree) king, J. G. von Herder's mistrans. of Danish ellerkonge, variant of elverkonge king of the elves

Angela was left crying over the beauty of "The Erlking," the last song rendered.

The "Genius" |Theodore Dreiser
But in the boy's brain the Erlking has already raised his enticing whisper.

How to Sing |Lilli Lehmann
The voice of the Erlking is a continuous, soft, uninterrupted stream of tone, upon which the whispered words are hung.

How to Sing |Lilli Lehmann
“The Erlking” of Schubert is especially hinted at, just as the first movement was prophetic of Beethoven.

Critical & Historical Essays |Edward MacDowell

They found the composer all aglow, reading the “Erlking” aloud to himself.

How to Appreciate Music |Gustav Kobb

erlking

/ (ˈɜːlˌkɪŋ) /

German myth a malevolent spirit who carries children off to death

C18: from German Erlkönig, literally: alder king, coined in 1778 by Herder, a mistranslation of Danish ellerkonge king of the elves