Franz Schubert - "Frühlingsglaube" ("Faith in Spring"), Op. 20, No. 2

Franz Schubert died at the shockingly young age of 31 (as with his contemporary Robert Schumann, likely of syphilis).  In that short time, he composed nearly a thousand works ranging from short lieder (songs) like this to his Symphony no. 9 which can only be described as "Beethovenian" in scope.  You have to wonder what else he would have written with another 40 years to work.



The song is probably inspired by a lyric poem of the same name written by a contemporary, Johann Ludwig Uhland:

Die linden Lüfte sind erwacht,
Sie säuseln und wehen Tag und Nacht,
Sie schaffen an allen Enden.
O frischer Duft, o neuer Klang!
Nun, armes Herze, sei nicht bang!
Nun muß sich alles, alles wenden.
Die Welt wird schöner mit jedem Tag,
Man weiß nicht, was noch werden mag,
Das Blühen will nicht enden.
Es blüht das fernste, tiefste Tal:
Nun, armes Herz, vergiß der Qual!
Nun muß sich alles, alles wenden.

The gentle winds are awakened,
They murmur and waft day and night,
They create in every corner.
Oh fresh scent, oh new sound!
Now, poor dear, fear not!
Now everything, everything must change.
The world becomes more beautiful with each day,
One does not know what may yet happen,
The blooming doesn't want to end.
The farthest, deepest valley blooms:
Now, poor dear, forget the pain!
Now everything, everything must change. 

The Romantics were nothing if not sentimental.  Perhaps we can forgive the short lived Schubert this flight of sentimentality.  And what is springtime if not for wild flights of fancy?