Du bist die Ruh

Friedrich Rückert Franz Schubert

(1788-1866) (1797
(1797-1828)

Original key. D 776. Rückert, the poet for six of Schubert’s

Schubert songs, was influenced by the Persian poet Hafis (1325-1389)
1389) and was a scholar
sch of eastern languages. He
taught in both Erlangen and Berlim. When authoring his 1821 collection of poetry titled
t Östlichen Rosen [Eastern Roses] he left the verses untitled, and Schubert

therefore gave the name “Du bist die Ruh” to this song. Rückert later gave the poem a title drawn from the third stanza, “Kehr
Kehr’ ein bei mir” [Commune with me].
This song and two others on Rückert textsts were published as Op. 59 in September of 1826 by Sauer and Leidesdorf. This text allowed Schubert to group stanzas
into a three-part modified strophic form, and the reverent transcendence of the verse finds perfect poise in the music’s
m s balance of quietude and intensity.

Du bist die Ruh You are rest

Du bist die Ruh, You are rest,

Der Friede mild, Gentle peace;
Die Sehnsucht du, The longing, you
Und was sie stillt. And that wich satisfies it.

Ich weihe dir I consecrate to you,

Voll Lust und Schmertz Full of joy and sorrow,
Zur Wohnung hier As a dwelling place here,
Mein Aug und Herz. My eyes and heart.

Kehr ein bei mir, Come commune with me,

Unt schlieβe du And close
Still hinter dir Quietly behind you
Die Pforten zu. The gates.

Treib andern Schmertz Drive other pain

Aus dieser Brust. From this breast.
Voll sei dies Herz Full may this heart be
Von deiner Lust. Of your joy.

Dies Augenzelt, He temple of these eyes

Von deiner Glanz From your radiance
Allein erhellt, Alone brightens;
O full es ganz. Oh, fill it completely.