I first started playing the violin 10 years ago. Back then, I thought I'd never be able to play this piece. 10 years later, I can now confidently say, I was right

Ernst didn't have friends so he had to play the whole thing by himself.

This is what happens when your second violin did not turn up for performance.

Hilary: Where's the second violinist? - he called in sick today Hilary: Fine. I'll do it my self

The cameraman must be in love with Hahn. He did not even show the other violinists.

Artificial harmonics while still playing normal notes? LH pizz while still bowing? Perfect double octaves? Notes that go farther than a tenth? Non adjacent trills while holding a note? Having 3 voices at a time? All I have to say is... da faq

She makes it look effortless

I've played violin for over 20 years and can confidently say anyone describing Hahn's playing as mechanical has been ingesting too much of the contemporary 'nutra-sweet' violinistic tendencies many players employ to conceal other shortcomings. She's one of the finest living players, period.

I don't think you can fully understand how truly complex this piece is until you see it written on paper and you attempt to play even the first line xD

Very well said. Hahn is often criticized for being "too perfect" or "unemotional" which of course just ridiculous. Her passion is in her perfection and dedication to transmitting the heart and mind of the composer to the listener.

The mad thing is she’s markedly better than this again right now. Truly one of the all time greats...and she can play while hula hooping. #linglingconfirmed

polyphony on a violin is so surreal

When the rest of your quartet doesn't show up

? and now please tell us the truth: where is the second violinist hiding ...

What’s amazing is that on top of the technical difficulties associated with this piece, she is able to perfectly express, the musical story. The boy sounds desperate, the father deep and concerned, the Erlkonig sweet and enticing... this is what makes Hilary truly great.

My favourite part is when it finish and you can press the replay button, and do it all day long.

Hilary Hahn should do an updated version of this piece now because I’m sure it would sound even better than this masterpiece

What you have to understand about Hahn is that she delivers the composer's work. She steps aside from her ego and lets the music be heard. She does so with an exquisite sound, almost perfect tuning and nothing forced. She does not need anything sensational to prove what she is, and in doing so actually becomes even more sensational. The drama is in the music, not in the narcissism of the player. She must be every composer's dream.

Amazing how she can pluck and bow at the same time.

"-I know, I'll compose a pice for four violins -Mr. Schubert, we have only one violinist -Well... make him play the four violins at the same time" That's how it happened haha.

I have scoured every source available to me for an Erlkonig performance as good as this, but nothing even touches a candle to Hilary here. It's actually insane how she maintains a steady rhythm, dynamics, and complete control over the melody all while playing these crazy complex chords. I only wish she would record this and release it properly!

I can actually hear the conversation, the talking, the rushing, the panic in their voices, the screaming and the griefing. BRAVO

who's here after watching her do it reversed

After listening to five different interpretations of this particular piece on spotify, I have to say this is the best one I have ever heard. The other interpretations sounded like violinists playing a difficult piece of music, but the result sounded very mechanic. Hilary makes it sound just like a beautiful piece of music, with the difficulty hidden underneath the music.

WOW. I studied this piece for a music history exam a couple years back and am only now hearing it on solo violin. Hillary Hahn is simply amazing

It is impossible! what she did is unbelievable! This piece is difficult in piano, ... In Violin, Wow! Hilary! You are great!

Did anyone else come here from TwoSetViolin? Just me??

Why the hell are there 1000 thumbs down?? bunch of ignorant people who have no idea how hard this piece truly is...

Who's coming here after the recent twoset and like 🤯

She is a Jedi for sure

I appreciate how she demonstrates the conversation by moving to one side to ask and then the other side to reply

She's sooo talented..The human brain is such an amazing machine!

I almost forgot to listen to this today

It seemed like the piece was not meant for the Violin but when she was playing it she changed the fact that it was not meant for the violin. Music is Freedom. Music is a Journey. She was one with the music. I was minblowned by the fact that she was amazing. Every measure of the piece seemed easy when she played it!

she makes one of the physically hardest pieces ever written look so easy.

How does she keep the flow that's incredible. All the other performances I've seen struggle to keep the same tempo going 👏 bravo I'm also glad she plays it a little slower than other performances, definitely sounds better

I played this song. Right after the first measure, I failed miserably.

She’s playing the main melody and the accompaniment all at once. I swear to god, this woman is gold. This piece is typically vocal plus piano accompaniment. She played the whole thing herself . Damn good.

This piece is crazzzyyyy the first time I listened to it, I thought there were two violins!! I love Hilary❤❤❤

Concert organiser: I'm sorry Hillary. The other members of the string quartet can't fly out to the concert hall because of the covid travel restrictions. Hillary: I got this. Who needs them.

I come back to this video every once in a while. Just as incredible as the first time, truly the best recording of this piece in my opinion.

all music, no show, no theatrics. love it. this remains my favourite interpretation of this insane piece. would i love to hear an updated version. the comments here saying shes playing it even better these days are killing me!

Who else is here from TwoSet to hear what it sounds like

It sounds like a fucking entire orchestra of violins!😂

I DEEPLY appreciate the insight about the piece!!! I took the liberty upon myself to research the piece further and I can understand the piece sso much better, and THAT'S WHAT MUSIC'S ABOUT!! So thank you SSOO MUCH!!

I keep coming back to this recording of der erlkonig all the time it's just the best

this is hands down the best interpretation of this piece. every note is soo clear and the part with two lines and harmonics you can hear a clear separation. like it amazes me that she does that so well omg

Hilary Hahn is legend of playing the violin ,this is the best recording i have ever heard of erlkonig.

is she playing this alone ??? wow ... i hear like 2 violins !!!

When you want to play a duet, but you don't have friends

Jealousy looks for a single flaw. The joy of man hears none.

I really appreciate the notes you have added in the video, to make it easier for us music noobs. The piece is inspired by Goethe's poem, here is the text: Who rides, so late, through night and wind? It is the father with his child. He has the boy well in his arm He holds him safely, he keeps him warm. "My son, why do you hide your face in fear?" "Father, do you not see the Elf-king? The Elf-king with crown and cape?" "My son, it's a streak of fog." "You dear child, come, go with me! (Very) beautiful games I play with you; Many colorful flowers are on the beach, My mother has many a golden robe." "My father, my father, and do you not hear What the Elf-king quietly promises me?" "Be calm, stay calm, my child; Through dry leaves the wind is sighing." "Do you, fine boy, want to go with me? My daughters shall wait on you finely; My daughters lead the nightly dance, And rock and dance and sing to bring you in." "My father, my father, and don't you see there The Elf-king's daughters in the gloomy place?" "My son, my son, I see it clearly: There shimmer the old willows so grey." "I love you, your beautiful form entices me; And if you're not willing, then I will use force." "My father, my father, he's touching me now! The Elf-king has done me harm!" It horrifies the father; he swiftly rides on, He holds the moaning child in his arms, Reaches the farm with great difficulty; In his arms, the child was dead.

Hilary, I always appreciate how much care you take to articulate difficult pieces/passages. The composers' intent or musicality can so easily get lost, but by staying in control you're able to tell a difficult story well. Much appreciated.

ooohhhh she plays it flawlessly!! I literally love her so much. Saying that she is my favorite violinist is a bit of an under statement. If I had to listen to only one violinist for the rest of my life there would be absolutely no hesitation in choosing Hilary Hahn.

Violin is not monophonic

An explanation of how each of the voices relates to the 3 characters of the poem and when they speak with timestamps: I wrote this as a response to another comment but thought others would want to see. It opens by setting the atmosphere At 0:20 is the first conversation between the father and son, the son is the squealing highs. 1:20 is the Erlkonig explaining his offerings of games, flowers, and robes. 2:02 "My father, my father, do you not hear what the Erlkonig promises me?..." At 2:14 it's easy to tell when the voice changes from the son to the father. 2:30 The Erlkonig returns to offer the son his daughters, dancing, etc. 2:49 - 3:04 "My father, my father, and don't you see there The Elf-king's daughters in the gloomy place?" Father replies at 3:04 3:24 Erlkonig explains his love for the son, and he wishes to take him by force 3:49 "My father, my father, he's touching me now! The Elf-king has done me harm!" The rest I'm not sure, but I assume its the father mourning over his son. 4:26 is the last time we hear the son's "voice" but it could be the father squealing I guess. If you're still lost it helps to listen to Schubert's original w voice.

Try it with violin and bow switched

Thank you Brett and Eddy ❤️

Hilary is so cool. This is my comfort piece when i want to get rid of myself and not be here anymore, something i sometimes watch first before anything else 😢😊💖

I really don't understand where comments about a lack of emotion comes. Hahn is hands down the only living person I've seen who can play this piece with emotion. Everyone else just plays it dry as a desert, presumably because of the piece's complexity.

I see nothing robotic. I see concentration on the important voice/technique of the moment, which is always changing, and ECONOMY. She has a baseline and stays to it.

Amazing performance, I can listen to it till morning without getting bored! By the way, it is not fair to say that violin is a monophonic instrument. It is true that violin is not as polyphonic as, say, a classical guitar, however, it is still not monophonic.

I can't even find a C note on a piano...I can't comprehend how anyone can play this on only one violin.

Thanks so much for not only posting this, but adding the comments -- I really appreciate that.

i just tried to add it to my watch later then realized it was already on there cause i've watched it so many times lol

The art of playing hard pieces is making them look playable!

Just amazing. I can’t put words.

Hello! I'be come for my harsh dose of reality XD In all seriousness, one of my favorite things about this is how both the composer and performer not only create something impressive technically, but also create drama by using different timbres associated with the characters and emotional context. I love the harmonics voicing the "Erlkonig" himself!

Here after TwoSetViolin!!! She is surely from the Order of Ling Ling!!! 😍

Who the hell even think about disliking this???

with HH you can tell how difficult a piece is by the frequency that her left eyebrow lifts infinitesimally. My goddess of the violin.

ling ling could do it with right and left hand reversed

came from twoset’s video with hillary :)

It has been 15 years since recorded this yet I couldn't find any better version. Hilary Hanh is just too powerful...

It is a divine blessing to live in the same time as one of the greatest of the virtuosi. An Angel speaks the unspeakable with her fiddle and her passion as she confers immortality on all of us, the living and the dead. Thank You, Hilary Hahn!

People don't understand how astronomically spectacular this is. Just playing this piece at all requires complete mastery of the violin. BUT...BUT she even adds dynamics to her pizz and little subtle things like that which you take for granted, but imagine trying to do those things while frantically playing this monstrosity. The level required to do that is unfathomable. Not only that, her interpretation is excellent. In almost every other performance of this piece, the soloist plays it as if they were trying to a Rockstar or the reincarnation of Paganini, but this piece is based off of an old German fairytale. In that fairytale, The Elf King (Der Erlkonig, an evil spirit) is trying to lure a little boy into his clutches. Whenever you hear Hahn change into a light and playful sound, this is the part of the poem where the Elf King is speaking to the boy. He tries to deceive him into thinking he is friendly by offering him gifts and promising to play with him. Literally every other version the soloist is shredding these parts to show off how fast they can play it, but that is incorrect. THIS is how it is supposed to be played. It's supposed to sound playful and light hearted at those parts.

played so beautifully all the different characters came out brilliantly and the story is portrayed crystal clear. Erkling got to the boy afterall

The 99 dislikes were from the Viola King's court.

Hilary Hahn, you are perfect! I can hear in this movie the perfect execution of the melodic line. Really well sung! Bravo!

By far the best performance of this very difficult work that I've heard. Thanks for sharing.

Humans: that was nice. Musicians: *crying tears of joy and love as they listen to possibly the most beautiful piece in the world being played by the one and only Hilary Hahn*

This is a good duet between Hilary and Ling Ling

I watched other people play this piece and no one comes near the perfection Hilary delivers. Every single note is perfectly pinched, bowed. I just....amazing

Thank you Hilary for such a wonderful performance ❤

Eddy and Brett's senpai.

Erlkönig Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Es ist der Vater mit seinem Kind: Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm, Er fasst ihn sicher, er hält ihn warm. „Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?“ „Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Den Erlenkönig mit Kron’ und Schweif?“ „Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif.“ „Du liebes Kind, komm, geh mit mir! Gar schöne Spiele spiel’ ich mit dir; Manch’ bunte Blumen sind an dem Strand, Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand.“ „Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht, Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht?“ „Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig, mein Kind: In dürren Blättern säuselt der Wind.“ „Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn? Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön; Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Rein Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein.“ „Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?“ „Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh es genau: Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau.“ „Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt; Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch ich Gewalt.“ „Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt fasst er mich an! Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids getan!“ Dem Vater grausets, er reitet geschwind, Er hält in Armen das ächzende Kind, Erreicht den Hof mit Mühe und Not: In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.

Beautiful job! You maintained the momentum which is awesome! I love how you brought out the melodic lines amidst all of the constant repeated triplets! Also the varied touches and dynamics really captured the essence of each voice. I look forward to hearing more of your videos! Warmest wishes for your continued success, Diane

Every time I listen to this I am again amazed at the complexity of the piece and at Hillary's skill. It's just truely amazing!

Ling Ling blessed Hilary with his grace

The best version no doubt.

This is superb in telling the story without words, only if you know the general outline. you clearly know what is the narrator. you can clearly recognize the high, panicked, crying voice of a delirious child. you can tell the slightly worried, but trying to be soothing father. there's the ever changing voices and moods of a fey, the Elf King. And there's the last few lines... the door creak... and 'When they arrived at their home.... the child- WAS DEAD!' and Hilary Hahn knows exactly how to tell the story and use each voice.

@TheViolinist1001 yeah. For my senior recital I was singing this piece, so one of the violin performance majors thought it would be interesting to perform it as well and have a little discussion at student lecture day... two days later she showed me the sheet music. Her exact words were "how...how....wait....what?..... can you?... 4 staves?" Long story short: Hilary Hahn is incredible.

Her interpretation is the best! Others, in my opinion, play it way too fast. Bravo Hilary!!!

Ling Ling: "But what shall you do with yourself during all of that extra time during those double stops?" Hilary Hahn: "Here, hold my bow case." - j q t -

I've watched this performance on youtube dozens of times and it's always moved me. I didn't know the story behind it, though. Thanks for providing this with annotations.

This is incredible musicality in her playing. She captures the slight variants in the repeated bass line as well as the balance between the two lines and the characters.

This is just amazing! This is what talent looks like 😩👏🏼

also difficult to play it on piano even the original lieder version due to continously rapid repeated chord . nice interpretation !

I'm absolutely addicted to it. What a grace ...

Each single note is played perfectly and exactly as it is right. Hard to imagine that Hilary's interpretation can be surpassed, that was her masterpiece.