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Table of Contents

Title Page
Dedication Page
General Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations for key references
Guide to abbreviations used in text
Allen Dunning's numbered Guide to the Ring's Musical Motifs
Detailed Table of Contents

The Ring

Introduction


References
Appendix I
Appendix I I

Key Colour Coding

Donations Welcome

I would be grateful for donations of any size, small or large, to help defray the cost (1) of maintaining this website, (2) and to finance my past and present research which produced my book posted here, Volume One of "The Wound That Will Never Heal," and my forthcoming revision of Volume One (to be submitted for publication), and completion of Volume Two on Wagner's six other canonic operas and music-dramas. I sacrificed at least seven years of paid employment and incurred debts to complete this project, and am currently unemployed, so I thank you in advance for any financial help you can provide. Your friend, Paul Heise.

“(The main door flies open.)

 

Sieglinde: (Starting up in alarm and tearing herself away) Ha, who went out? Who came inside? (The door remains open: a glorious spring night outside; the full moon shines in and throws its bright light on the pair, so that they can suddenly see each other in total clarity.)

 

Siegmund: (in gentle ecstasy) No one went – but someone came: see how spring smiles into the hall! (#38/#11: He draws Sieglinde to him on the couch with gentle force, so that she sits beside him. The moonlight grows increasingly bright.) [[ #73 ]] Winter storms have waned at May’s awakening; spring is aglow with gentle light; on balmy breezes, light and lovely, working wonders he wafts his way; through woods and meadows blows his breath; wide open his eyes are laughing. In blissful birdsong sweetly he sounds and fragrant perfumes scent his breath; from his warming blood bloom wondrous flowers, buds and shoots sprout forth from his strength. Arrayed with delicate weapons, he conquers the world; winter and storm gave way to his stout defense: at his doughty blows the sturdy door had no choice but to yield which, stubborn and stern, (#40 or #64 Vari?) divided us from him. (#40 or #64 Vari?) (#40 or #64 Vari?) To find his sister he flew this way; (tenderly) love has lured Spring here. Deep in our breasts love lay hidden; in bliss she now laughs in the light. The sister-bride was freed by her brother; (#64) in ruins lies what held them asunder; exulting, the couple greet one another: [[ #75 ]] United are love and spring!” [[ #73 ]]

 

Sieglinde: (#25 or #40?) Your are the spring for which I longed in frosty wintertime; you my heart greeted in holy dread when my eyes first lighted upon you. – (#40 or #64 Vari?) All I’d ever seen seemed strange, friendless was all that was near me; as though I’d never known it was everything that befell me. (#64?) But you I recognized plainly and clearly: when my eye beheld you, you were my own: what I hid in my breast and what I am, it came to me as bright as day; like an echoing sound it struck my ear, when in frostily foreign wasteland I first beheld my friend. (#24: She throws her arms round his neck in her ecstasy and looks closely into his face.)

 

Siegmund: (Enraptured: [[ #74 ]]) O sweetest delight, most blessed of women.”

[[#74]] Waelsungs’ “Love-Longing”

(#74 in same family as #22, #99, and possibly #106)

[see #73 for #74’s dramatic context]