Listen to Franz Schubert's setting of 'Du bist die Ruh' below, performed by award-winning British bass William Thomas and internationally-renowned pianist Eugene Asti live at the Oxford Lieder Festival 2020.
Du bist die Ruh
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
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 repose
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
and gentle peace.
You are longing
and what stills it.
Full of joy and grief
I consecrate to you
my eyes and my heart
as a dwelling place.
Come in to me
and softly close
the gate
behind you.
Drive all other grief
from my breast.
Let my heart
be full of your joy.
The temple of my eyes
is lit
by your radiance alone:
O, fill it wholly!
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Du bist die Ruh
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
You are repose
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Du bist die Ruh,
You are repose
Der Friede mild,
and gentle peace.
Die Sehnsucht du,
You are longing
Und was sie stillt.
and what stills it.
Ich weihe dir
Full of joy and grief
Voll Lust und Schmerz
I consecrate to you
Zur Wohnung hier
my eyes and my heart
Mein Aug’ und Herz.
as a dwelling place.
Kehr’ ein bei mir,
Come in to me
Und schliesse du
and softly close
Still hinter dir
the gate
Die Pforten zu.
behind you.
Treib andern Schmerz
Drive all other grief
Aus dieser Brust.
from my breast.
Voll sei dies Herz
Let my heart
Von deiner Lust.
be full of your joy.
Dies Augenzelt
The temple of my eyes
Von deinem Glanz
is lit
Allein erhellt,
by your radiance alone:
O füll’ es ganz.
O, fill it wholly!
Composer
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel
Fanny Hensel, née Mendelssohn (1805-47), was an exceptionally gifted musician whose potential was stifled by the gendered social conventions of her upper-middle-class background in mid-19th-century Berlin. She came from a wealthy and cultivated…
Poet
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…