presents the Content in its fullest compass; for only Thought can grasp the absent [fernen?], but only the present can be grasped by Feeling. In this unity of the Expression, ever making present, and ever embracing the full compass of the Content, there is at like time solved, … the … problem of the unity of Time and Space.“ [549W-{50-1/51} Opera and Drama: PW Vol. II, p. 348-349]
One can easily see in this how Wagner conflated Schopenhauer’s Kantian notion of the ideality of time and space and causation (i.e., Erda’s knowledge, which the Norns spin into their rope of fate) with Wagner’s own notion of the “Wonder” of his musical motifs, which make all time seem now, and all space seem here, and which makes us feel transcendent, as if we are freed from fate itself.
And here Wagner explains why Siegfried urged Bruennhilde to be for him, now, what she was and will be:
“R.: ‘The word ‘eternal’ is a very fine one, for it really means ‘holy’: a great feeling is eternal, for it is free from the laws of change to which everything is subject: it has nothing to do with yesterday, today, or tomorrow [Erda’s objective knowledge of all that was, is, and will be, which Alberich affirms and Wotan denies]. Hell begins with arithmetic.’ “[804W-{7/25/71} CD Vol. I, p. 396] [See also 550W]
[S.3.3: J]
Bruennhilde, wholly enrapt in Siegfried’s ecstatic self-abandon, now abandons her resistance entirely, and plunges head first into his passionate embrace:
Bruennhilde: (#87?:; #137b:) That I’m not yours now (:#87?; :#137b)? (#Siegfried Idyll accompaniment? [i.e., Siegfried’s Ardent Figure from above?]) (#82 hint:; #51hint: [&/or hints of other music associated in S.3.3. with Bruennhilde’s expression of her fear of losing her virginity to Siegfried, including her invocation of images of mist (“Nebel”), night, and dread? Maybe a bit of Norn music from T.P is heard here also?]) Godlike composure (:#82 hint?; :#51 hint? [or other music associated with Bruennhilde’s fear of sexual union with Siegfried?]) (#137?:) rages in billows; the chastest of light (#?: [hint of Wotan’s & Bruennhilde’s despair again, perhaps #82 & #51, or other music associated with her fear of sexual union with Siegfried?]) flares up with passion (:#82 & #51 hints? [or hint of other music associated with Bruennhilde’s fear of sexual union with Siegfried?]); (#141?: [the lead-up to the finale as heard above]) heavenly knowledge floods away (:#141?), (#140 vari:) love’s rejoicing drives it hence (:#140 vari)! (#140 vari [a string fanfare possibly heard in S.3.1 in association with Wotan’s confrontation with Erda, when he told her “… Where brains are brooding your mind remains … .”?]) (#87 frag:) Am I now yours (:#87 frag)? –
