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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

Donations Welcome

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.

[[#76]] The Waelsung twins' remembrance of things past – their common Waelsung heritage

(#76’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; heard most prominently after this in the exciting finale of V.1.3 as the Waelsung twin-pair Siegmund and Sieglinde run off together from Hunding’s house to elope)

[[#77]] The “Valkyries” as muses of inspiration and angels of death

Erda’s daughters, the Valkyries (including Bruennhilde), inspire heroes to martyrdom in unwitting service to the illusory, religious belief in man’s transcendent value. After death their cultural legacy lives on to protect Valhalla and its illusions from the truth

(#77 part of a family of heroic motifs derived from the last 3 notes of #53, which include #71, #88, #92, #95, and perhaps #152; through #53 related to #1 – and thus to #57b – and to #2 and #3)

[[#78]] Bruennhilde's “Valkyrie War-Cry”

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

[[#79]] Fricka's indictment of the Waelsung twins’ illicit (adulterous and incestuous) love

Fricka expresses her fear that Wotan’s use of mortal proxies to undermine divine law will bring about the end of man’s faith in the gods. Wotan knows what Fricka can’t afford to acknowledge, that only through this breach in faith can the gods’ ideals and values live on, redeemed from Alberich’s curse, redeemed from Alberich's threat to overthrow them.

(#79 based on #58b; #79’s initial rhythm influenced by #61)