Info

Home Page / About Wagnerheim
Introduction by Roger Scruton
About the Author
Interactive Features
Wagner Lecture Videos
Wagner Lecture / Papers Transcript
Links
Contact Us
Discussion Forum

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.

Bruennhilde: (#83) Him whom you always taught me to love, whose loft valour is dear to your heart – never will your two-faced words force me to turn against him.

Wotan: Ha, insolent child! How dare you insult me! What are you if not the blindly elective tool of my will? (#21) – In conferring with you, have I sunk so low that I’m scorned by creatures of my own making? (#60 Chromatic Vari) Do you know my anger, child? [[ #84 ]] May your courage fail if its lightning flash were to strike you with crushing force! (…) And so I warn you; don’t provoke me: see that you do as I said: (#83) Siegmund shall fall! Let this be the Valkyrie’s task!

(#83, [[ #84 ]]; [[ #85 ]]: He storms away and is soon lost from sight among the mountains on the left.)”

 

[[#85]] The second motif of Wotan’s anger at Bruennhilde for fighting for an ideal he has renounced

(#85 possibly based on #55)

[See #84 for #85’s dramatic context]

 

[[#86]] “Hunding’s Pursuit” of the Waelsung Twins

A motif representing the difficulty of living for love in a loveless world (#86 based on #7, Alberich’s Futile Wooing [Scrambling] Motif)

“Sieglinde: (#67 Steerhorns?: starting up and listening) (#64 Vari) Hark! The horns – do you hear their call? The furious bray rings forth all around; yonder it yells from forest and shire. (#60 Chromatic Vari; #65 Steerhorns?) Hunding has woken from heavy sleep; kinsmen and hounds he calls together; soundly harried, the pack is howling and baying wildly heavenwards at wedlock’s broken vow! (Staring ahead of her as if demented: Where are you, Siegmund? Can I still see you? (#40 or #64?) Ardently cherished, light-bringing brother. (#64 Loose Vari) Let your star-bright eye shine upon me again and shun not the kiss of a fallen woman! (She has thrown herself, sobbing, on his breast; then she starts up again in fear: [[ #86? ]]; #67?) Hark! O hark! That is Hunding’s horn! (#81?) His pack is approaching, mightily armed! No sword can resist the hounds’ seething horde: cast if off, Siegmund! – Siegmund – where are you? [[ #86 Inverted ]] Ha! There! I can see you - terrible sight! Scenting flesh, the dogs bare their fangs; they pay no heed to your noble mien; their firm-gripping teeth tear at your feet – you fall – the sword is shivered in shards!