Liszt's songs are not often encountered in the concert hall or on recordings. True, Liebesträume No. 3 and Die Lorelei have achieved a measure of popularity, but the former is much more widely performed in its piano version and the latter appears to be as well. Über allen gipfeln ist Ruh' (All around is silence and rest) is one of his least-popular efforts, despite its generally high quality. The text, about a haunting nature scene, is taken from Goethe. Liszt, the inveterate reviser, made three versions of the song, the later ones tending to scale down the accompaniment and lessen the sense of melodrama. The song opens in a mournful and slow manner, deftly matching the ghostly atmosphere described in Goethe's poetry. Midway through, the vocal line and piano accompaniment briefly flare up before retreating to the melancholy quiet of the opening. The song is a masterpiece of atmosphere in any of its three versions which, as suggested above, are quite similar. Liszt also made two choral arrangements of the work, both worthwhile efforts. This attractive song generally has a duration of three-and-a-half to four minutes.

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