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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

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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.

Bruennhilde: ([[ #77 ]]: Shouting exultantly as she leaps from rock to rock up to the heights on the left: [[ #78 ]]) Hoyotoho! Hoyotoho! Heiaha! Heiaha! Hahei! Hahei! Heiaho!

 

(She pauses on a high peak, looks down into the gorge at the rear of the stage and calls back to Wotan.)

 

Bruennhilde: I warn you, father, forearm yourself; a violent storm you’ll have to weather: Fricka, your wife, draws near in a chariot drawn by a team of rams. (#5) Ha! How she whirls (#5; [#41 Vari on cellos reminiscent of Alberich whipping the Nibelungs?]) the golden whip; the pitiful beasts are bleating with fear; the wheels are rattling wildly: wrathful, she fares to the fray. [Bruennhilde declares this isn’t her kind of battle.] (#77) Then see how you weather the storm! I’ll happily leave you to it!”

 

[Bruennhilde leaves, singing #78]

[[#78]] Bruennhilde's “Valkyrie War-Cry”

(#78’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained)

[See #77 for #78’s dramatic context]

[[#79]] Fricka's indictment of the Waelsung twins’ illicit (adulterous and incestuous) love

Fricka expresses her fear that Wotan’s use of mortal proxies to undermine divine law will bring about the end of man’s faith in the gods. Wotan knows what Fricka can’t afford to acknowledge, that only through this breach in faith can the gods’ ideals and values live on, redeemed from Alberich’s curse

 (#79 based on #58b; #79's initial rhythm influenced by #61)

“(#5 Vari; #41 Duple Vari?: Fricka arrives on the mountain ridge from the gorge in a chariot drawn by two rams: here she stops abruptly and climbs out. She strides impetuously towards Wotan, who is standing at the front of the stage.

 

Wotan: [[ #79 ]] The same old storm, the same old strife! But here I must make a stand!