Du bist die Ruh'

Franz Liszt transcribed many of Schubert's songs for piano, including "Du bist die Ruh" (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 simplicity of the melody makes this piece that much more difficult to sing as it requires perfect legato and breath control.

Schubert sets tender and gentle themes to Rückert's words, and the simplicity of the piano line further enhances the meaning of the song.

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 the calm, the mild peace", in the introduction.

The fifth (and final) verse is the start of the B section ("Dies Augenzelt, von deinem Glanz allein erhellt, o füll es ganz!").

Kehr' ein bei mir, und schließe du still hinter dir die Pforten zu.

Dies Augenzelt, von deinem Glanz allein erhellt, O füll es ganz!

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