(Hagen thrusts his spear into Siegfried’s back. Gunther and the vassals throw themselves at Hagen. #92: Siegfried raises his shield in both hands in order to throw it at Hagen; his strength fails him; the shield falls to the ground behind him and he himself collapses on top of it. [[ #177ab ]])
Four Vassals: (having tried in vain to restrain Hagen) Hagen, what are you doing! [[ #177ab ]]
Two Others: What have you done? (#87)
Gunther: (#159) Hagen, what have you done? (#159)
Hagen: (#159) A false oath I avenged!
[[ #177ab ]] Hagen turns away calmly and disappears over the cliff top, where he can be seen walking away slowly through the gathering gloom. Griefstricken, Gunther bends down beside Siegfried. In a gesture of sympathy, the vassals form a circle round the dying man. #87 plus drums “Crisis”)
Siegfried: (Supported in a sitting position by two men, opens his eyes radiantly: #138 [including harp music, trills, and shimmers from Bruennhilde’s awakening in S.3.3]) Bruennhilde: Hallowed bride, awaken! (#139) Unclose your eyes! (#87 Vari) Who locked you in sleep once again? (#87 Vari) Who bound you in slumber’s dread bonds? ([#Morse-code like figures from her original awakening in S.3.3]) One came to wake you; (#92) his kiss awakes you and once again he (#92) breaks the bride’s bonds: (#92) and Bruennhilde’s joy laughs upon him. (#92) (#140 >>) Ah! Those eyes – now open forever! (#140) Ah, this breath’s enchanted sighing! (#141) Sweet extinction [“Suesses Vergehen”], - (#141) blissful terror [“seliges Grauen”]: Bruennhilde (#87) gives me her greeting!”
Interlude: Siegfried’s Funeral Procession: (Siegfried sinks back and dies. Motionless grief on the part of those around him; [[ #177ab ]]; #66; [[ #177ab ]]; #66; #? [possible reference to music heard in S.3.2, possibly #66, #81, or #87, in association with Wotan’s telling Siegfried that if Siegfried knew who Wotan – disguised as the Wanderer – was, he’d respect him, and that Siegfried’s disrespect is painful to Wotan?]; night has fallen. At Gunther’s silent command, the vassals lift up Siegfried’s body and, during the following, carry it away slowly in solemn procession over the cliff top. [[ #177ab Brass ]]; #71; [[ #177ab ]]; #70; #63/#66. The moon breaks through the clouds and casts an increasingly bright light on the funeral procession which has now reached the top of the cliff. #40; #64; [[ #177ab ]]: Mists have risen from the Rhine and gradually fill the whole of the stage, on which the funeral procession has already become invisible, so that it remains completely hidden through the musical interlude. #66/[[#177 Fragment ]]; #57; [[ #177a in Major ]]; #92/[[ #177b Major ]]; #92abc [#92c or #71 Vari “Hero”?: i.e., the motif in V.3.1 associated with “(She takes the fragments of Siegmund’s sword from beneath her coat of mail and hands them to Sieglinde,” and with Bruennhilde’s
