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This touching serenade is part of Schubert´s Schwanengesang (swan song), a collection of 13 songs published posthumously in the year of Schubert´s death 1828 (, No 4). Its lyrics as well as its plaintive melody have always appealed to me. Pansies (or violas and violets) for me quite fittingly represent the vulnerability of the speaker of the poem (and composer of the song). The dark petals are soft to the touch and have bright centres - patches of lucidity and hope? Incidentally the word “pansy“ is derived from the French word “pensée“ - thought - another reason why these endearing flowers are ideally suited to illustrate this quintessentially Schubertian song. The arrangement for flute and piano is played by my piano teacher and me (flute). The sheet music can be obtained from :
