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Allen Dunning's numbered Guide to the Ring's Musical Motifs
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The Ring

Introduction


References
Appendix I
Appendix I I

Key Colour Coding

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[[#163]] Bruennhilde’s query of Waltraute: Perhaps Wotan relented in his intent to punish Bruennhilde, because his punishment (leaving her to be woken solely by a fearless hero) has become her blessing, since she has won Siegfried’s love

(#163’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; but I speculate it may owe something to music which accompanied #99 in V.3.3, when Bruennhilde had finally persuaded Wotan to protect her vulnerable sleep with a ring of protective fire so she would be woken by, and wed to, only a fearless hero (in the event, Siegfried), and he became, one last time, tender towards her as he reminisced about the past, and contemplated the anguish of never seeing her again, while leaving a freer man than himself heir to Bruennhilde)

“Waltraute’s Voice: (in the distance: #78a) Bruennhilde, sister! (#78b) Are you asleep or awake?

 

Bruennhilde: (#91>>: leaping to her feet) Waltraute’s call, so blissfully Dear! (#78a: calling offstage) Are you coming, sister, (#39 Vari; #78a) and boldly flying hither to me? (She hurries back to the edge of the rock.) (#39 Vari or #103 Vari?) There in the pinewood – (#83a [Segment based on #53]; #78a) known to you yet, (#78a/#77>) dismount from your horse, and leave the courser to rest. (#78b)

 

(She plunges into the pinewood, from where a loud noise, like a clap of thunder, can be heard. Bruennhilde returns, violently agitated, with Waltraute and remains in a state of joyful excitement, failing to notice Waltraute’s fear.)

 

Bruennhilde: Are you coming to me? Are you so bold? Can you offer your greeting to Bruennhilde without feeling dread? (#95 Vari)

Waltraute: (#96?) For you alone I hurried here.

 

Bruennhilde: [[ #163 ]] So, for Bruennhilde’s sake, you’ve dared to break War-Father’s ban? Or what else? O say! Might Wotan’s heart have relented towards me? [[ #163 ]]; #143?; #96?) When I shielded Siegmund against the god, erring – I know – (#96?) I fulfilled his wish nonetheless: (#95 Vari) that his anger had passed I also know; (#98; #95 Vari [with #94’s harmony]) for, though he locked me in sleep at once, fettered me to the fell and left me, as maid, to the man who chanced to find and awake me, [[ #163 Fragment ]]; #96b Vari Clarinet >>) he granted my timid entreaty, (#77) with ravening fire he girded the fell (#77; #33a) to bar the faint-heart’s way. (#96b Vari) So his (#139 Vari; #81b?) punishment made me thrice-blessed: (#140 vari) (#92) the most glorious of heroes (#139 Vari) won me as wife; (#139 Vari; #140?) (#139 Vari) in his love I exult and glory today! (#139 Vari)

 

(#78a/#77: She embraces Waltraute with passionate demonstrations of joy, which the latter attempts to ward off with timid impatience.)