Info

Home Page / About Wagnerheim
Introduction by Roger Scruton
About the Author
Interactive Features
Wagner Lecture Videos
Wagner Lecture / Papers Transcript
Links
Contact Us
Discussion Forum

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.

Siegfried: I’m still without a catch, so ask what you desire. (#15/#12)

 

Wellgunde: (#17/#19 vari) A golden ring glints upon your finger.

 

All Three: (#37) Give that to us!”

 

[At the end of this scene, after Siegfried has refused to grant the Rhinedaughters his Ring because they sought to appeal to fear rather than to love, #176 recurs in an important context as they chastise him for losing – and forgetting - the gift Bruennhilde had granted him:]

 

“The Rhinedaughters: (#175>>>>) Come, sisters! Flee from the fool! (#164 plus #19? – or #176?) Wise and strong as he weens himself, the hero is hoppled and blind. (#174a vari; #175: In wild agitation they swim close to the shore in widening circles.) (#174a vari) Oaths he swore (#174b) (#174a vari) and doesn’t heed them; (#175: more violent movement) (#174a) runes he knows (#174b) (#174a) and cannot read them.

 

Flosshilde, then Woglinde: (#149/#174a>>) A most hallowed gift was granted to him – (#176) that he’s cast it away (#176) he doesn’t know:

Flosshilde: (#176 Vari) the Ring alone, Wellgunde: which will deal him death –

 

All Three: the circlet alone he wishes to keep! (#19 vari) (#19vari/#175>>>>) Fare well, Siegfried! A proud-hearted woman will be your heir today, you wretch! She’ll give us a fairer hearing: (#174a) (#174a) To her! To her! To her!

 

(They quickly resume their dance and swim away, at a leisurely pace, towards the back of the stage. Siegfried watches them go with a smile, one leg resting on a rocky outcrop on the shore, while supporting his chin with his hand.)”

 

[[#175]] The Rhinedaughters swim jubilantly (as they once did in celebration of the Rhinegold), excited by the prospect that a hero might restore the stolen Rhinegold to them, to truly – not artificially, as in art – restore lost innocence

(#175 is a member of the motif family known as Motions of Nature, which includes #2, #3, #11, #14, and #38)

[See #174abc for #175’s dramatic context]

 

[[#176]] Siegfried has lost his path back to his muse of inspiration and unconscious mind, Bruennhilde: a motival reminiscence  of the Woodbird's revelation that the sleeping Bruennhilde waits for Siegfried to wake, woo, and win her love