History Literature / TheMusicOfErichZann

* {{Defictionalization}} - Many musical artists, including Music/TheDarkestOfTheHillsideThickets, have released Zann-inspired tracks of eerie string music.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof Sounds]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation crazy]], no?]]

"The Music of Erich Zann" is a 1922 short story by Creator/HPLovecraft, and considered [[CreatorsFavorite by the man himself to be among his best work]].

* CityWithNoName: The story is set in an unspecified, rather hilly, city, where French seems to be the most commonly-spoken language and there's a major university. Most readers assume it's Paris, although Paris is a relatively flat city. Lovecraft may also have been thinking of Quebec City, which does have the steep topography to match the story, and which would become a favourite travel destination of his years later. On the other hand, But ultimately, like so much else in this story, it's impossible to say for certain.

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield:
** The story is set in an unspecified, rather hilly, city, where French seems to be the most commonly-spoken language and there's a major university. Most readers assume it's Paris, although Paris is a relatively flat city. Lovecraft may also have been thinking of Quebec City, which does have the steep topography to match the story, and which would become a favourite travel destination of his years later. But ultimately, like so much else in this story, it's impossible to say for certain.
** In-universe, the narrator's failed attempts to relocate Rue d'Auseil within the city.

* TheCityNarrows: The Rue d'Auseil seems to be a very dilapidated, low-income neighbourhood, though the narrator never seems to worry about street crime.

* HostileWeather: At the climax of the story, a massive storm blows open the window of Zann's apartment. However, when the narrator eventually flees the building, he realizes that it's a perfectly calm, clear night. Whatever bad weather there was was only visible through Zann's window.

* TheSpeechless: Erich Zann is mute. Even when he tries to express himself in written form, he has trouble, because his command of French is "execrable" and he seems to have no English at all.

* TheCityNarrows: The Rue d'Auseil seems to be a very dilapidated, low-income neighbourhood.

"The Music of Erich Zann" is a 1922 short story by Creator/HPLovecraft, and considered by the man himself to be among his best work.

* TheUnReveal: Zann begins writing down an explanation of what he's doing and why but is interrupted and the narrator flees before reading what he did write.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_music_of_erich_zann.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Theatre/FiddlerOnTheRoof Sounds]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation crazy]], no?]]

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* PortalDoor: The window to Eric Zann's apartment seems to lead to another world, represented by a black abyss. And Erich Zann is trying to ensure that anything living in that world stays there.

* PortalDoor: Well, window anyway. The window to Eric Zann's apartment seems to lead to another world, represented by a black abyss. And Erich Zann is trying to ensure that anything living in that world stays there.

The story is narrated by a nameless university student who is forced to take up residence in an apartment building on a peculiar street called "Rue d'Auseil". One of the only other tenants is a quiet old man by the name of Erich Zann. At night, the old man plays his viol, and the student becomes fascinated by the strange, almost indescribable melodies he produces. Convinced the man is some sort of musical genius, the student tries to get to know the old man. Eventually, he comes to realize that something more sinister is afoot, and all is not right with Rue d'Auseil...

* RaceLift: Zahn is often depicted as Jewish in adaptations.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Theater/FiddlerOnTheRoof Sounds]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation crazy]], no?]]

* TheUnReveal: Zann begins writing down an explanation of what he's doing and why but is interrupted and the narrator flees before reading what he did write.

* BrownNote: Zann's otherworldly music is able to keep terrifying eldritch monsters at bay.

* NothingIsScarier: The more the narrator (and, by extension, the reader) learns, the less he understands. Just what the hell is Rue d'Auseil? What is lurking in the abyss outside Zann's window? How did Zann die and how was he still able to play the viol? Hell, we don't even get much in the way of a description of what Zann's music sounds like.

* PortalDoor: Well, window anyway. The window to Eric Zann's apartment seems to lead to another world, represented by a black abyss. And Erich Zann is trying to ensure that anything living in that world stays there.

* {{Bizzarchitecture}}: The houses that populate Rue d'Auseil fall under this category. "The houses were tall, peaked-roofed, incredibly old, and crazily leaning backward, forward, and sidewise. Occasionally an opposite pair, both leaning forward, almost met across the street like an arch; and certainly they kept most of the light from the ground below. There were a few overhead bridges from house to house across the street."

* Bizzarchitecture: The houses that populate Rue d'Auseil fall under this category. "The houses were tall, peaked-roofed, incredibly old, and crazily leaning backward, forward, and sidewise. Occasionally an opposite pair, both leaning forward, almost met across the street like an arch; and certainly they kept most of the light from the ground below. There were a few overhead bridges from house to house across the street."

* BrownNote: Zann's otherworldly music is able to keep EldritchAbominations at bay.
* TheLittleShopThatWasn'tThereYesterday: Despite years of searching, the narrator is never able to find Rue d'Auseil again.

* NothingIsScarier: The more the narrator (and, by extension, the reader) learns, the less he understands. Just what the hell is Rue d'Auseil? What is lurking in the abyss outside Zann's window? Hell, we don't even get much in the way of a description of what Zann's music sounds like.