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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.

[[#92abc]] “Siegfried,” the world’s noblest hero – fearless and innocent because he does not know who he is

(#92 is in the family of heroic motifs stemming from the last three notes of #53; it is therefore related to #1, #2, and #3, and through #1 to #57b; this heroic family of motifs includes #71, #77, #88, #95, and perhaps #152)

[Sieglinde in despair has begged Bruennhilde to let her commit suicide so she can join her brother-husband Siegmund in death, until Bruennhilde’s announcement that Sieglinde is bearing the pledge of his love [the seed of the yet unborn Siegfried] in Sieglinde’s womb:]

“Bruennhilde: O woman, live for the sake of love! Save the pledge you received from him: (forcefully and insistently) a Waelsung stirs in your womb!

(Sieglinde initially starts up violently, but her face immediately lights up with sublime joy)

Sieglinde: Save me, brave woman! Rescue my child! Shield me, you maidens, with mightiest shelter! (#83?: An ever darkening tempest rises in the background)

Waltraute: (…) The storm’s drawing nearer [Wotan approaches in a rage intending to punish Bruennhilde for disobeying his command and supporting the Waelsungs.]

Ortlinde: (…) Flee all who fear it!

The six other Valkyries: Away with the woman, if danger besets her: let none of the Valkyries dare to protect her!

Sieglinde: (kneeling before Bruennhilde) Save me, or maiden! Rescue a mother!

Bruennhilde: (Raising Sieglinde to her feet with lively resolve) Flee then in haste – and flee alone! I’ll stay here and face Wotan’s vengeance: here I’ll forestall the furious god, while you escape from his frenzy. (#83?)

Sieglinde: Whither should I turn?

Bruennhilde: Which of you sisters has roamed to the east?

Siegrune: (#19 Chromatic Vari Winds; #48) Away to the east a forest stretches: there Fafner has taken the Nibelung Hoard.

Schwertleite: (#19) The savage assumed the shape of a dragon and in a cave he guards Alberich’s Ring.