Du bist die Ruh'

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. The text is derived from a set of poems by German poet Friedrich Rückert (1788-1866). It is the third poem in a set of four. This song is set for solo voice and piano.

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."^[1] 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, perhaps setting the scenery for the poem's first lines, "You are peace, the mild peace." The simplicity of the melody only makes this piece that much more difficult to sing as it requires legato and control of the sound. Any inconsistencies in the sound can disrupt the text and take away from the 'peace' of the poem. 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. ^[2] 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?^[3] 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]

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 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!

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.

Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

Sheet music for "Du bist die Ruh"

English Translation

Sheet music for Liszt's Du bist die Ruh'