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Composed in
1840
Opus
Op. 25, No. 3
Source
Public Domain
Schumann, Robert
Dreams of a friendly greeting and a word of love from her, which vanish like mist upon waking.
Schumann, Robert
## About This Piece "Am leuchtenden Sommermorgen" (On a Bright Summer Morning) is the twelfth song from Robert Schumann's *Dichterliebe* (A Poet's Love), Op. 48, composed in 1840. The text is by Heinrich Heine from his *Lyrisches Intermezzo*. This song marks a pivotal moment in the cycle — the poet walks through a garden on a radiant summer morning, and the flowers whisper to him with compassion, urging him not to be angry with their sister (the beloved who has rejected him). The music in B-flat major unfolds with a gentle, rocking accompaniment that evokes the swaying of flowers in a morning breeze. The song is remarkable for its extended piano postlude, which is longer than the vocal portion itself. This postlude is one of Schumann's most eloquent instrumental passages, expressing what words cannot — a mixture of resignation, tenderness, and lingering sorrow. It demonstrates Schumann's revolutionary concept of the piano as an equal partner in the Lied, capable of carrying the emotional narrative beyond the text.
Schumann, Robert
The pure, exuberant joy of motherhood as she holds her child for the first time.
Schumann, Robert
An old knight turned to stone looks out from his castle, while life goes on unheeding below.
Schumann, Robert
A vision of a magical, musical land of dreams, offering a temporary escape from reality.
Schumann, Robert
From the poet's tears, flowers grow, and his sighs become a choir of nightingales for his beloved.
"Der Nussbaum" (The Walnut Tree) is the third song from Robert Schumann's song cycle Myrthen (Myrtles), Op. 25. Composed during Schumann's celebrated "Year of Song" (Liederjahr) in 1840, Myrthen was presented to his beloved Clara Wieck on the eve of their wedding on September 12, 1840 — a deeply personal gift adorned with myrtle blossoms, the traditional symbol of love and marriage.
The text is by the German poet Julius Mosen (1803–1867). The poem paints a delicate scene: a walnut tree before a house spreads its leafy branches, bearing fragrant blossoms. A gentle breeze stirs the leaves, which seem to whisper of a bridegroom and of the coming year. A young maiden listens, lost in thought, and drifts into sleep with a smile — dreaming of love and her impending union.
Set in G major, the song features a gently undulating piano accompaniment built on flowing semiquaver arpeggios that evoke the rustling of the walnut tree's leaves in a summer breeze. The through-composed form allows the music to unfold naturally alongside the poem's imagery. Dominant sixth suspensions lend the harmony a characteristic warmth and tenderness.
The integration of piano and voice is remarkably subtle — the piano's melodic motif both precedes and follows the vocal phrases, and later transforms into a delicate counterpoint against the voice. This technique of seamlessly blending accompaniment and melody would profoundly influence later composers, particularly Johannes Brahms.
Myrthen holds a special place in the history of German Lied. The cycle draws texts from seven poets — including Goethe, Heine, Rückert, Burns, and Byron — creating a rich tapestry of love poetry. "Der Nussbaum," along with the opening "Widmung" (Dedication), remains one of the most frequently performed songs from the collection, beloved for its intimate charm and lyrical beauty.
