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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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See #20 and #33 for further motival links.)

[See #48 for “Arrogance of Power” dramatic context]

 

[[#49]] Alberich transformed into a “Toad” through the Tarnhelm's magic

The gods (religious belief) take the human mind (Alberich and his Ring) prisoner

(#49 based on #48)

[See #48 for #49’s dramatic context]

 

[[#50]] Alberich's “Resentment” against the gods' rule and intent to avenge their co-opting of his Ring-Power

Alberich will inevitably avenge the gods’ co-opting of his Ring power, their suppression of the potential for the human mind to acquire power through objective knowledge, because religious man (Wotan, Light-Alberich), over time, will accumulate a hoard of knowledge which will undermine his illusions

(#50 a syncopation of #19's harmony; related through #19 harmony to #46, #51, #68, and #159)

[Alberich, Wotan’s and Loge’s prisoner, has ransomed himself by granting them his Hoard, Tarnhelm, and Ring:]

 

Loge: (to Wotan) Is he ransomed?

 

Wotan: Set him free! (Loge frees Alberich from his bonds.)

 

Alberich: (Raising himself) [[ #50 ]] Am I free now? (laughing wildly) [[ #50 ]] Really free? [[ #50 ]] Then let my freedom's first greeting salute you!” [[ #51 ]] Just as it came to me through a curse so shall this Ring be accursed in turn; just as its gold once endowed me with might beyond measure, so shall its spell now deal death to whoever shall wear it! (#19 Vari) No joyful man shall ever have joy of it; on no happy man shall its bright gleam smile; (#50) may he who owns it be wracked by care, and he who does not be ravaged by greed [“Neid”]! Each man shall covet its acquisition, but none shall enjoy it to lasting gain; (#19) its lord shall guard it without profit, and yet it shall draw down his bane upon him. [[ #52 ]] Doomed to die, may the coward be fettered by fear; as long as he lives, let him pine away,