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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.

(#132b/#98: Siegfried listens again.)

 

Voice of the Woodbird: [[ #128b ]] He who wins the bride and awakens Bruennhilde shall never be a coward: (#129?) only he who knows not fear!

 

Siegfried: (Exultantly: #129?) The foolish boy who knows not fear, (#128b?) my Woodbird, that is I! This very day I tried in vain (#48?) to learn from Fafner what fear may be. Now I burn with longing to learn it from Bruennhilde: how shall I find my way to the fell?

 

(The bird flutters up, circles over Siegfried and flies off, hesitantly, in front of him.)

 

Siegfried: Thus shall the way be shown to me: (#92c or #71 Vari “Hero” or #57 Vari?) wherever you flutter, there shall I follow!

 

(#129b Varis; #132b; #129b Varis: He runs after the bird, which teases him for a time by leading him inconstantly in different directions before finally setting off in a particular direction towards the back of the stage, with Siegfried in pursuit.)”

 

[[#129ab]] The Second “Woodbirdsong” – music as man’s artificial bid to restore lost innocence

(See #128 for #129’s motival links)

[See #128 for #129’s dramatic context]

 

[[#130]] The selfishness and egotism of the Nibelung siblings Alberich and Mime

Representing the egoism which is the foundation of all human motives

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

“Alberich: … you’ll never get hold of the lordly Ring, you lout! (#41 Frag)

 

Mime: (scratching his head: #41/#123 Vari Fragment >>) Well, keep it then and ward the bright Ring well! You be its lord: (#107 Voc Vari?) but keep on calling me brother! (#105 Vari) I’ll give it to you in return for my Tarnhelm’s (#41/#123 Vari Frag) delightful toy: it befits us both that we share the spoils in this way. (He rubs his hands confidingly.)