Richard Strauss wrote his Lieder op. 27 for his wife Pauline on occasion of their wedding day. A beautiful short song, the text by John Henry Mackay ends:
"Stumm werden wir uns in die Augen schauen, Und auf uns sinkt des Glückes stummes Schweigen"
or in English:
"Speechless we shall gaze into each other’s eyes, And the speechless silence of bliss shall fall on us"
A wonderful way to start or end a recital with percussion: I love the moment this song affords both the performer and the audience. I hope you do too!
