"" (You are rest and peace), D. 776; Op. 59, No. 3 is a Lied composed by

Franz Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wo ...

(1797–1828) in 1823. The text is from a set of poems by the German poet

Friedrich Rückert Friedrich Rückert (16 May 1788 – 31 January 1866) was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Biography Rückert was born in Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local '' Gymnasium'' ...

(1788–1866). It is the third poem in a set of four. This song is set for solo

voice The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, humming or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound producti ...

and

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

Description and analysis

Rückert's poem was originally untitled. Schubert used the poem's first line as the title of the song. Rückert later titled his poem "" (Stay with me). Franz Liszt transcribed many of Schubert's songs for piano, including "" (S. 558/3). The melody and harmonies are all Schubert's but with the addition of Liszt's own interpretation, while still staying true to the original meaning of Rückert's poem. The piece is in

triple meter Triple metre (or Am. triple meter, also known as triple time) is a musical metre characterized by a ''primary'' division of 3 beats to the bar, usually indicated by 3 (simple) or 9 ( compound) in the upper figure of the time signature, with , , ...

() and is marked

larghetto In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...

(fairly slow) and

pianissimo In music, the dynamics of a piece is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings still require interpretation by the performer dependin ...

(very soft). The piece is in

bar form Bar form (German: ''die Barform'' or ''der Bar'') is a musical form of the pattern AAB. Original use The term comes from the rigorous terminology of the Meistersinger guilds of the 15th to 18th century who used it to refer to their songs and the ...

and its original key is

E-flat major E-flat major (or the key of E-flat) is a major scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has three flats. Its relative minor is C minor, and its parallel minor is E minor, (or enharmonically ...

. It starts with both hands playing broken triads softly and slowly in treble clef. The simplicity of the melody makes this piece that much more difficult to sing as it requires perfect

legato In music performance and notation, legato (; Italian for "tied together"; French ''lié''; German ''gebunden'') indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, the player makes a transition from note to note wit ...

and breath control. Any inconsistencies in the sound can disrupt the 'peace' of the poem. Schubert sets tender and gentle themes to Rückert's words, and the simplicity of the piano line further enhances the meaning of the song. The progression of the harmonies repeat with the bar form, always establishing the key of the piece. With a pianissimo and larghetto marking and the piano part light in

texture Texture may refer to: Science and technology * Surface texture, the texture means smoothness, roughness, or bumpiness of the surface of an object * Texture (roads), road surface characteristics with waves shorter than road roughness * Texture ...

, Schubert sets up the poem for the first few lines, "You are the calm, the mild peace", in the introduction. The piece has five stanzas. The first and second verses are almost exactly identical to the third and fourth, with the exception of one note. The fifth (and final) verse is the start of the B section (""). Both the piano and the voice have a marking of pianissimo up until measure 57, when there is finally a

crescendo In music, the dynamics of a piece is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings still require interpretation by the performer dependin ...

. This is in the first few bars of the B section. In measure 59, Schubert marks

forte Forte or Forté may refer to: Music *Forte (music), a musical dynamic meaning "loudly" or "strong" * Forte number, an ordering given to every pitch class set * Forte (notation program), a suite of musical score notation programs * Forte (vocal ...

. Here is the climax as well as the highest note of the piece along with a

decrescendo In music, the dynamics of a piece is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases. Dynamics are indicated by specific musical notation, often in some detail. However, dynamics markings still require interpretation by the performer depen ...

. There is then a bar of rest and Schubert marks the next entrance at pianissimo once again. Perhaps this is to reinforce the mood of the song. "What could be more restful than silence?" Schubert repeats this text, thereby creating a sixth verse. He then ends the vocal line on the dominant (B-flat), which leaves the piano to resolve the harmony. Throughout the piece, Schubert sets words like "joy" on the tonic, and words like "pain" on the dominant harmonies.

Text

Du bist die Ruh', der Friede mild, die Sehnsucht du, und was sie stillt. Ich weihe dir voll Lust und Schmerz zur Wohnung hier mein Aug' und Herz. Kehr' ein bei mir, und schließe du still hinter dir die Pforten zu. Treib' andern Schmerz aus dieser Brust! Voll sei dies Herz von deiner Lust. Dies Augenzelt, von deinem Glanz allein erhellt, O füll es ganz! You are the calm, the mild peace, you my longing and what stills it. I consecrate to you full of joy and grief to dwell here my eye and heart. Come in to me, and softly close the gates behind you. Drive other pain from this breast. Full be my heart of your joy. The canopy of my eyes by your splendour alone is lit, O, fill it completely!

Other settings

"Du bist die Ruh" was also set to music by Fanny Mendelssohn in her Opus 7 in 1839.

References

External links

* *
English translation
at lieder.net
"Du bist die Ruh' "
English translation in '' Harper's Magazine''
Text, translation
oxfordlieder.co.uk * , (soprano) * ,

Benjamin Zander Benjamin Zander (born 9 March 1939 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England) is an English conductor, who is currently the musical director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Biography Benja ...

's interpretation

master class A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed. "Masterclass" is als ...

on "Du bist die Ruh' " * , Leon McCawley,

Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadi ...

, October 2016 {{authority control Lieder composed by Franz Schubert 1823 songs