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Du bist die Ruh'

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Portrait of Franz Schubert by Franz Eybl (1827)

Du bist die Ruh' (English: You are rest), D. 776; Op. 59, No. 3 is a Lied composed by Franz Schubert (1797-1828) in 1823.[1] The text is derived from a set of poems by German poet Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866).[2] It is the third poem in a set of four. This song is set for solo voice and piano.[3]

Composition

Schubert used the poem's first lines to title the song. Rückert later titled this poem "Kehr ein bei mir" which translates to "Stay with me."[4] The piece is in a triple meter (3/8) and is marked larghetto (fairly slow) and pianissimo (very soft). The original key of this piece is E-flat major. The form of Du bist die Ruh is bar form. Du bist die Ruh' starts with both hands playing in treble clef and the piano is softly and slowly playing broken triads. The simplicity of the melody only makes this piece that much more difficult to sing as it requires legato and control of the breath. Any inconsistencies in the sound can disrupt the text and take away from the 'peace' of the poem. Schubert sets tender and gentle themes to Rückert's words and with the piano line being so simple, it only 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, Schubert sets up the poem for the first few lines, "You are peace, the mild peace," in the introduction. This piece has five strophes. The first and second strophe are almost exactly identical to the third and fourth strophes with the exception of one note. The fifth (and final) strophe is the start of the B section (Dies Augenzelt, von deinem Glanz allein erhellt, o füll es ganz!). Both the piano and the voice have a marking of pianissimo up until measure 57, when there is finally a crescendo. This is in the first few bars of the B section. In measure 59, Schubert marks forte. Here marks the climax as well as the highest note of the piece along with a decrescendo.[4] 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?[5] Schubert repeats this text a second time, creating a sixth strophe to even out the verses. He then ends the vocal line on the dominant (B-flat), which then leaves the piano to resolve the harmony. Throughout the piece, Schubert sets words like "pleasure" on the tonic, and words like "pain" on the dominant harmonies.[4]

Text

German

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!

English

You are peace,
the mild peace,
you are longing,
and what stills it.
I consecrate to you
full of pleasure and pain
as a dwelling here
my eyes and heart
Come live with me,
and close
quietly behind you
the gates.
Drive other pain
out of this breast!
May my heart be full
with your pleasure.
The tabernacle of my eyes,
by your radiance
alone is illumined,
Oh fill it completely!

See also

Franz Liszt transcribed many of Schubert's songs for piano, including Du bist die Ruh. 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.

References

  1. ^ John Reed (15 August 1997). The Schubert Song Companion. Manchester University Press. pp. 208–9. ISBN 978-1-901341-00-3.
  2. ^ Paul Terry; David Bowman (1 September 2004). A Student's Guide to AS Music for the AQA Specification. Rhinegold Publishing Ltd. pp. 70–1. ISBN 978-1-904226-61-1.
  3. ^ Jonathan Retzlaff; Cheri Montgomery (11 May 2012). Exploring Art Song Lyrics: Translation and Pronunciation of the Italian, German & French Repertoire. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 213–4. ISBN 978-0-19-977532-3.
  4. ^ a b c Kellner, Stephen. "Analysis - Schubert's "Du bist die Ruh"".
  5. ^ Smith, Stephanie. "Form and Analysis: Why "Du bist die Ruh" is so romantic".
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