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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.

remark about the Woodbird: “My Woodbird’s flown away; with fluttering flight and sweet-sounding song it showed me the way”?]) Are you laughing at me? No more of your questions, old man; don’t keep me here talking any longer. (#66 [Very Emphatic !!!!]) If you can show me the way, then tell me: if you’re unable, (#66) then hold your tongue! (#66 [Very Emphatic !!!!])

 

Wanderer: ([[ #135 ]] [sounding like #83 with #20a’s harmony?]) Patience, my lad! If you think that I’m old, you should show me respect.”

 

[[#136]] Wotan bars Siegfried’s access to the sleeping Bruennhilde to insure Siegfried is truly the free, fearless hero needed by the gods for their redemption

(#136’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; but it can be considered one of the Motions of Nature)

“(#21) Wanderer: The way it [the Woodbird] showed you shall not go!

 

Siegfried: (stepping back in surprise by adopting a defiant attitude: [[ #136>> ]] Hoho! You forbid me? Who are you then who would bar my way?

 

Wanderer: [[ #136 varis ]] Fear the Guardian of the fell! Locked within my power the sleeping maid is held: (#23 vari?) he who awakens her, he who wins her would make me powerless for aye! [[ #136 ]]/#34>>) A sea of fire floods round the woman, a white-hot blaze licks round the rock: (#34?) he who longs for the bride will find the fire raging towards him.”

 

[[#137ab]] Siegfried learns fear from the sleeping Bruennhilde, his premonition that it is dangerous to wake the repository of Wotan’s unspoken secret, which Wotan couldn’t bear to speak aloud

(#137 derives ultimately from #21, via its transformations into #28, #32b, #60, #62, #81AB, part of #83, and #96ab. It is the basis for #164.)

[#137a is introduced after Siegfried, having found Bruennhilde lying in her armour asleep, and incorrectly assuming that she is a man, has cut away her armour so she can breath easier. He is suddenly overcome with inexplicable fear:]

“Siegfried: Come, my sword, and cut through the iron!

 

(#57; vari: Siegfried draws his sword and, with tender care, cuts through the rings of mail on both sides of the armour. #132b: He then lifts away the breastplate and