Music Examples
4.7Valhalla motif, “prime form,” from Das Rheingold, scene 2
4.8Valhalla motif, “Tarnhelm form,” from Götterdämmerung, act 1, scene 3
4.10Valhalla motif, “cursed form,” from Die Walküre, act 2, scene 2
9.1“Woman/nature” motivic complex from Loge’s narration in Das Rheingold, scene 2, as recalled in the “Forest Murmurs” episode of Siegfried, act 2
9.2Woodbird motif in “Forest Murmurs” episode of Siegfried, act 2
9.3Woglinde’s “lullaby”-melody from the opening of Das Rheingold, scene 1
9.4aErda/Nature motif (minor form) from Das Rheingold, scene 4 (Erda’s warning)
9.4bNature motif (major form) from middle of Erda’s warning, Das Rheingold, scene 4
9.4cTwilight of the gods motif as inversion of Nature motif, Das Rheingold, scene 4
9.5World Ash Tree motif (minor-mode variant of Valhalla), Götterdämmerung, Prologue
9.6Rhinegold motif as example of triadic “Nature motif” type, Das Rheingold, scene 1
9.7Valhalla motif as example of triadic “Nature motif” type, Das Rheingold, scene 2
9.8Wotan’s sardonic “blessing” of Alberich (Nibelungen-Segen), Die Walküre, act 2
9.9Rhinemaidens’ cry (“Rheingold! Rheingold!”), original “Nature motif” version, Das Rheingold, scene 1
9.10Minor/diminished variant of Rhinemaidens’ cry as the Nibelung “servitude” or “enslavement” motif, Das Rheingold, scene 3
12.1aPremonition of the sword motif, emblematic of Wotan’s mission, Das Rheingold
12.1bPremonition of Siegfried’s downfall, Götterdämmerung, act 3 scene 2
12.1cThe underlying harmonic corruption of Siegfried’s C major
