In consequence, a comprehensive analysis of The Ring would be an enormous task. Wagner's motives have, in reality, a fundamentally psychological signifi¬ cance, and his score is a continuous symphonic development of them, reflecting the continuous psychological development of the stage action. In his 'Introduction' to the Decca recording of The Ring (a spoken commentary, with music examples, on three records), Deryck Cooke said that: themes - or leading motives as they have come to be called - are not mere identification tags nor is the score a simple patchwork made up by introducing each motive at the appropriate point in the stage-action. But what was completed at the time of his death is of such importance for Wagner studies that its publication was essential. Preface Deryck Cooke's death in October 1976 deprived us of over half of his monumental study of The Ring - not only the entire second volume, dealing with the music, but also the detailed study of the sources, texts, and action of both Siegfried and The Twilight of the Gods. Text set in 9/IO2 pt VIP Palatino, printed by photolithography, and bound in Great Britain at The Pitman Press, Bath No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechani¬ cal, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press © Jacqueline Cooke 1979 First published 1979Īll rights reserved. Oxford University Press, Walton Street, Oxford ox2 OXFORD TORONTO IBADAN I Saw the World End A study of Wagner's Ring (Lines rejected from the closing scene of The Twilight of the Godsīut printed in the definitive text of 1872.) The blessed end of all things eternal, do you know how I reached it? Deepest suffering of grieving love opened my eyes: I saw the world end. If I now fare no more to Valhalla's fortress, do you know whither 1 go? From the land of desire 1 depart, the land of illusion I flee for ever the open gates of eternal becoming I close behind me: to the desire-free, illusion-free holiest chosen land, the goal of world-wandering, redeemed from rebirth, she who understands now departs. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2020 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation
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