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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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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 Five - A mountain pass: Siegmund, Sieglinde, Bruennhilde, Hunding, and Wotan

[V.2.5: A]

Siegmund notices that Sieglinde - having fainted - seems now to be dreaming a happy dream, perhaps inspired by Bruennhilde’s consoling presence, and runs off to fight Hunding. Sieglinde’s happy dream now turns, ironically, into a remarkably vivid nightmarish remembrance of the terrible day her mother was murdered, and Sieglinde herself was abducted by the Neidings who sold her to Hunding, separating her from Siegmund and her father Waelse (Wotan). Her nightmare from the past culminates in her waking in the present to witness Siegmund being killed by Hunding, victim of the very society which originally killed their mother and separated Sieglinde from her twin brother Siegmund and father Waelse (Wotan):

(#87; #89; #87)

 

Siegmund: (bending over Sieglinde again and listening to her breathing: #64?:) Proof against magic, slumber soothes my sweetheart’s pain and sorrow (:#64?): - (#64:) when the Valkyrie came to my side, did she bring her this blissful solace (:#64)? (#87) Should so fell a choice not affright a sorrowing woman? (#73 hint without the melody?:) Lifeless she seems who is yet alive (:#73 hint?): a smiling dream (#73 or #76?:) now speaks to her in her sadness (:#73 or #76?). (#73?) – (#60 chromatic vari) Sleep on till the battle be fought and peace bring you joy once again.

 

(He lays her gently on the stone seat and kisses her in farewell. #24 & #25 on clarinet: he hears Hunding’s horn-call and starts up resolutely. #67)

 

[Siegmund says he’ll pay Hunding what he deserves, draws Nothung, and disappears at the back of the stage into stormclouds flashing lightning, as we hear #57 repeated]

 

Sieglinde: (#86:; #60 chromatic vari:; #61: beginning to stir more restlessly in her dreams: #Independent musical theme from the first - “Faust” - movement of Liszt’s Faust Symphony on cellos; #60:) Would that our father were home! With the lad he yet lingers far away in the wildwood. (#67) Mother! Mother! My spirit fails me: - (#64 hint?) the strangers seem neither friendly nor peaceful!