Robert Schumann's "Unter'm Fenster Op. 34/3" (‘Under the Window') is the third of four poetic duets that make up the song cycle Vier Duette für Sopran und Tenor Op. 34. This particular song, as well as the one it follows, are based on original poems by Robert Burns, which were freely adapted into German by Wilhelm Gerhard. The titles of the other songs are "Liebesgarten Op. 34/1" by Robert Reinick, "Liebhabers Ständchen Op. 34/2" also by Burns and "Familien - Gemälde Op. 34/4" by Grün. "Unter'm Fenster" and its accompanying songs are just a few superb examples of the composer's 130 Lieder from the year 1840. Even though he was previously unsure of the genre's potential for profound expression, he obviously had a drastic change of heart. So powerful was his impact, that he literally rescued the genre from the increasingly common inclination to compose these types of works with triviality of musical invention and sentimentality of tone. With their carefully chosen texts and interpretations, the two Burns' songs are on a slightly higher level than the others, making them the very heart of the cycle. Even though listeners may miss the lilt of the Scottish dialect, Schumann effectively captures the text's meaning and feeling in these two songs.

As previously mentioned, "Unter'm Fenster" was written in 1840, a joyous year for Schumann, as a ban, which had prevented him from marrying Clara Wieck, was finally lifted. The piece was actually composed only days from the time he received the victorious news, thus, critics have wondered if duets, such as this one, which were intended for private, domestic performance, were inspired by the quiet time he and his finance spent discussing music. In the dialogue of "Unter'm Fenster" the tenor persuasively attempts to make his way into the soprano's bower, but she nervously mentions, entering over his cadence at the juncture of stanzas, what might happen if he were inside. His leaps suggest growing anticipation and excitement, which surmount with each crescendo. Schumann captured the humor and youthful passion of the verse in the vocal line, while allowing the piano to firmly carry the rhythm forward. Despite the song's subject matter, it was clearly not written for amateurs, as virtuosity is needed to master the passion of the dialogue. In addition, the vocalists should be skilled at interpretation and able to locate the passages that call for ritardando, as they are unmarked, but implied by the closely following "a tempo" notations.

After completing "Unter'm Fenster" and its accompanying songs, Robert Schumann began to set a group of six poems by Robert Reinick, for the cycle entitled Sechs Gedichte (1840). Of the four songs of Vier Duette für Sopran und Tenor, "Unter'm Fenster" has been one of the most popularly recorded and a 1939 performance by Lotte Lehmann and Lauritz Melchior can be heard on Romophone's label.

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