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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.

The Vassals: [[ #172 ]] Is he being pursued by her kinsmen’s hostile vassals?

 

Hagen: (#37) He’s coming alone: no one’s following.

 

The Vassals: [[ #172 Vari ]] So he triumphed over the danger [“Noth”]? (…)

 

Hagen: The dragon-killer averted the danger [“Noth”]: (#103 vari>>) Siegfried the hero made sure he was safe!”

 

[[#171]] The “Gibichung Horncall” heralding the inappropriate wedding of Siegfried with his false muse Gutrune, and Gunther (Wagner’s audience) with Siegfried’s true muse Bruennhilde (Wagner’s musical motifs, which keep the profoundest secret of Siegfried’s – i.e. Wagner’s - poetic aim)

(#171 is in the same family as other characteristic Gibichung Motifs such as #151, #155, #156, and perhaps #165; Cooke believed #171 was the musical antithesis of Siegfried’s Youthful Horncall #103.)

[See #169 for #171’s initial dramatic context; see #170 for #171’s subsequent dramatic context]

[[#172]] The Gibichung Vassals’ joyous welcome to Gunther and Bruennhilde: By virtue of Siegfried’s unwitting betrayal of his muse Bruennhilde, Siegfried’s audience (Gunther) humiliates her and makes a public spectacle of her

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

[See #170 for #172’s initial dramatic context. Probably the most impressive use Wagner makes of #172 is in the Vassals’ powerful chorus of welcome to Gunther as he comes on shore with Bruennhilde:]

“(Gunther steps out of the boat with Bruennhilde: the vassals line up respectfully to receive them. Throughout the following, Gunther leads Bruennhilde solemnly by the hand.)

 

The Vassals: (#152 loose vari) Hail to you, Gunther! Hail to you, and to your bride! Welcome! (They strike their weapons noisily together.)

 

Gunther: (#77 frag; #164 vari: presenting Bruennhilde, who follows him pale-faced and with downcast eyes, to the vassals: (#172/#152 Vari Fragment >>) Bruennhilde, most hallowed of women, I bring to you here on the Rhine: a nobler wife was never won! The gods have favoured the Gibichung race; now let it rise to the highest renown!