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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.

[[#141ab]] What Siegfried doesn’t know (his true identity and fate), his unconscious mind Bruennhilde knows for him

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

[See #138 for #141’s initial dramatic context; see #140 for #141’s more detailed dramatic context:]

 

[[#142]] Bruennhilde calls upon the artist-hero Siegfried to preserve and respect her status as his muse of unconscious artistic inspiration

(#142’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; #142 is one of the primary themes Wagner incorporated into his Siegfried Idyll.)

Bruennhilde has unexpectedly grown fearful of consummating her loving union with Siegfried, because, as the repository of Wotan’s unspoken secret, his repressed Hoard of unbearable knowledge, she has a premonition that if she shares this secret with Siegfried in loving union, he might betray it to the light of day:

“Bruennhilde: (Staring ahead of her: #134 [fades away]; #82) Grieving darkness clouds my gaze; (#51 Vari) My eye grows dim, its light dies out: (#82) Night enfolds me; (#51 Vari) from mist [“Nebel”] and dread [“Grau’n”] a confusion of fear now writhes in its rage! (#79/#84 >>) Terror stalks and rears its head!

(#25 or #40 Vari?: [possibly reference to swift variant of #25 heard when Freia ran from the Giants in R.2?] Bruennhilde impulsively covers her eyes with her hands.)

Siegfried: (gently removing her hands from her eyes. Night encloses (#134 Vari Clarinet?) eyes that are bound; (#134 Vari) with your fetters your gloomy dread will fade: (#134 Oboe; #Voc? [perhaps referencing music heard during Wotan’s confession to Bruennhilde in V.2.2 when he told her of his need for a hero freed from the gods’ law or protection who by fighting them could redeem them, when #83 was introduced?]) rise from the darkness and see – bright as the sun shines the day!

Bruennhilde: (in the utmost dismay) Bright as the sun shines the day of my shame. (#96>>) O Siegfried! Siegfried! Behold my fear! (#79 and/or #80 on clarinet?)

 

([[ #142 ]] Bruennhilde’s mien reveals that a delightful image has passed before her mind’s eye, at the thought of which she tenderly directs her gaze back to Siegfried)