lied
A German art song for voice and piano, typically setting a poem to music.
In Depth
The German Lied (plural: Lieder) is an art song for voice and piano, typically setting a German poem to music. The form reached its peak in the 19th century, when composers created an intimate fusion of text and music that elevated both arts.
Schubert is the undisputed master of the Lied, having composed over 600 songs including masterpieces like Erlkönig, Gretchen am Spinnrade, and the song cycles Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin. Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, and Strauss continued the tradition, each bringing their own approach to the relationship between voice, piano, and poetry.
Schubert composed Erlkönig at age 18 in a single afternoon, according to his friend Josef von Spaun. It remains one of the most dramatically powerful songs ever written.