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Title Page
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Guide to abbreviations used in text
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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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 Valkyrie: Act Two, Scene Four - A mountain pass: Siegmund, Sieglinde, and Bruennhilde

[V.2.4: A]

Bruennhilde, having arrived to inform Siegmund of his fated doom, of Wotan’s requirement that he must be martyred on earth to serve the gods, after death, in heaven, now appears before Siegmund, having just witnessed his despairing love for his sister Sieglinde. She approaches with dignity and reserve and with respect for her appointed victim. The brief instrumental prelude to V.2.4 which accompanies her quiet approach to Siegmund, opens the scene known as Bruennhilde’s annunciation of death to Siegmund. This “Todesverkuendigung” introduces two new motifs, #87, generally known as the “Fate Motif,” and #88, called the “Annunciation of Death” or “Doom” motif. We will see in the course of the remainder of the drama how well these descriptive titles hold up, but #87 is in virtually all of its appearances in the libretto/score linked with the concept of fate, while Bruennhilde’s annunciation of fated death to Siegmund is a particular instance of fate:

(Prelude: [[ #87 ]]; #87; [[ #88 ]]: Leading her horse by the bridle, Bruennhilde emerges from the cave and advances slowly and solemnly to the front of the stage. She pauses and observes Siegmund from a distance. #87; #87; #88: Again she advances slowly. She stops, somewhat closer to him. She carries her shield and spear in one hand, resting the other on her horse’s neck, and thus observes Siegmund with a grave expression. #20bc?)

 

Bruennhilde: Siegmund! – (#87) Look on me! I am she whom you’ll follow soon. (#87)

 

Siegmund: (raising his eyes to her: #88) Who are you, say, who appears before me so fair and solemn?

 

Bruennhilde: (#87) The death-doomed alone are destined to look on me: (#87) he who beholds me goes hence from life’s light. (#20a?:) In battle alone I appear before heroes (:#20a?): (#20c) him who perceives me (#20d) I’ve chosen as one of the slain.

 

Siegmund: (gazing at length into her eyes, steadfastly and searchingly, then lowering his head in thought and finally turning to her resolutely again. #87; #88) The hero who follows you – where will you lead him?