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Title Page
Dedication Page
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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.

[[#167]] Alberich’s demand that Hagen win the Ring back from the religio-artistic men who have co-opted the  power of the human mind (Alberich's power) to sustain consoling illusions: this can only occur through Siegfried the artist-hero's death, i.e., the discrediting of art as a value-giver

Commonly known as the “Murder Motif”

(#167 is a compressed #19 variant)

[[#168ab]] “Hagen’s Day” of triumph over those dedicated to the consoling illusion that man has transcendent value, an illusion embodied in religion, art, and human relationships

(#168’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; at its inception in an orchestral interlude it is actually a Canon based on #1, somewhat as heard during the Prelude to the entire Ring in R.1, but then the motif develops a brutal, brassy character associated with Hagen’s evident day of triumph over Siegfried, Bruennhilde, and his Gibichung half siblings Gunther and Gutrune.)

[[#169]] Gutrune’s festive welcome to Siegfried in Freia’s name, and in honor of all women

(#169’s motival links, if any, not yet ascertained; however, it sounds as if it may be a festive variant of Gutrune’s Motif #156)

[[#170]] Hagen’s rallying cry (“Danger – ‘Noth’ - is here!”) to the Gibichungs to attend the public exposure of Siegfried’s true relationship with his muse, and unconscious repository for Wotan’s hoard of forbidden knowledge, Bruennhilde, which will bring about the twilight of the gods (#54)

(#170 is based on #5ab, and thus linked with other motifs derived from #5ab such as #13 and #15, #41, #45, and #161)

[[#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)