Seeking Help -- I've "Mis-remembered" a Piece of Music

[monafam]

This is a little frustrating, because the name of the work and composer has completely escaped me.  I thought I'd throw this out to the group with a description of what I do remember about the piece.

I believe the setting is a father galloping on a horse with his (really sick?) son, who keeps seeing some goblin or something that signifies death.  The kid keeps saying he sees it and the dad keeps telling him not to worry....until I think he ultimately does die.

I recall it actually being really sad to me (so much so, that I wonder if I could actually listen to it now that I have kids.)

[vandermolen]

This is a little frustrating, because the name of the work and composer has completely escaped me.  I thought I'd throw this out to the group with a description of what I do remember about the piece.

I believe the setting is a father galloping on a horse with his (really sick?) son, who keeps seeing some goblin or something that signifies death.  The kid keeps saying he sees it and the dad keeps telling him not to worry....until I think he ultimately does die.

I recall it actually being really sad to me (so much so, that I wonder if I could actually listen to it now that I have kids.)

Don't know it but possibly one of the musical settings mentioned here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Erlk%C3%B6nig

[Sergeant Rock]

This is a little frustrating, because the name of the work and composer has completely escaped me.  I thought I'd throw this out to the group with a description of what I do remember about the piece.

I believe the setting is a father galloping on a horse with his (really sick?) son, who keeps seeing some goblin or something that signifies death.  The kid keeps saying he sees it and the dad keeps telling him not to worry....until I think he ultimately does die.

I recall it actually being really sad to me (so much so, that I wonder if I could actually listen to it now that I have kids.)

Vandermolen is correct of course. You're undoubtedly thinking of Schubert's song Der Erlkönig. And yes, it is emotionally devastating.

Sarge

[monafam]

Thanks so much -- that is definitely the song I was thinking of.

"Emotionally devastating" is a very apt description.  I can recall feeling that way when I first heard it in a college music apprieciation class. 

Now, I don't know if I'll even have the courage to even listen to it.  Amazing when a piece of music can do that to you.

Curious (probably another thread topic) if others can think of pieces of music that are hard to listen to because of the powerful emotions (not just hating a piece though) they evoke. 

[The new erato]

It's a 5 minute opera with more believable drama than most operas.

[Sergeant Rock]

Curious (probably another thread topic) if others can think of pieces of music that are hard to listen to because of the powerful emotions (not just hating a piece though) they evoke. 

Yes, that has been discussed by some of us. Franz Schmidt's Fourth Symphony, a requiem for his daughter, is a great work but not easy to listen to; nothing to be played casually. Much of Alan Pettersson's symphonic output can have a profoundly disturbing effect; he's a composer whose music reflects his dire circumstances. And I have a hard time imagining anyone with children listening comfortably to Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (Songs on the death of children).

Sarge

[monafam]

In most cases, I really like knowing the motivation for a composer writing a particular piece; however, it makes it really tough when something can be so personal like this.

I wiki'd Kindertotenlieder, which I had never heard -- and may have trouble listening too in the future, and it had the following:

The poignancy of the cycle is increased by the fact that four years after he wrote it, Mahler lost his daughter, Maria, aged four, to scarlet fever. He wrote to Guido Adler: "I placed myself in the situation that a child of mine had died. When I really lost my daughter, I could not have written these songs any more."

Makes me want to go hug my kids some more -- amazing the reflective "insight" I get when I'm at work, and how quickly the mood changes once I see them when I get home!