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Richard WagnerMusic 1010Professor Craig FerrinBY SANEL KIBRICNOVEMBER 4TH, 2013
Agenda
Richard Wagner Biography Composition History Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire Listening Guide Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire Bibliography
Richard Wagner BIOGRAPHY
Richard Wilhelm Wagner
Born on May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, Germany Year 1813 has historical significance
Battle of Leipzig/ Battle of the Nations Napoleon was defeated
Controversy over biological father Karl Wagner, police officer Ludwig Geyer, artist
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“ “From an early age, Wagner had been interested in theater, drama, verse, and acting. While in his teens he became interested in music, and began studying and composing. His greatest inspiration came from the operatic reforms and ideas of Gluck, and from the German operas of Carl Maria von Weber.”
RICHARD WAGNER- MUSIC HISTORY
First play written at the age of fifteen First composition written at the age of sixteen
Wagner’s early explorations
Early influences by the unorthodox composer Gluck Wagner introduces the not so clear separation of arias and the
recitative Strives for the ‘Gesamtkuntwerk’ or total artwork
18 hours ‘Ring’ Four piece opera Creation of the Bayreuth Festival in 1876
Dissonance- tension or clash, while searching for a solution
Chromaticism- creation of new tone combinations
Wagner’s Impact on the world of music and the opera
Composition History
WOTAN'S FAREWELL AND THE MAGIC FIRE
Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire
‘Das Ring der Nibelungen’ or ‘Ring’ Most famous Wagner’s opera, in four parts
‘Das Rheingold’ / The Rhine Gold ‘Die Walküre’ / The Valkyrie ‘Siegfried’ ‘Götterdämmerung’ / Twilight of the Gods
Written between June 1854 & March 1856 First time performed on June 26, 1870 at the Royal Court and National
Theatre in Munich, Germany
‘Gesamtkunstwerk- Das Ring der Nibelungen’
August 14, 1876 – the ‘Ring’ is performed for the first time as ‘total art’ Bayreuth Festival and the specifically designed festival hall Toured Germany first, and then continued on a world tour Bayreuth Festival still exists today playing only Wagner’s operas
Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire
God Wotan sings farewell to his daughter Brünnhilde Brünnhilde believed to be acting in the best interest of her family
She tried to save her step brother Siegmund God Wotan however is reminded of the rule of marriage
Siegmund was planning to rescue a women from an unhappy marriage Wotan intervened by killing him
Brünnhilde’s punishment includes turning into a mortal, laying in sleep being protected by a wall of fire
Listening Guide WOTAN'S FAREWELL AND THE MAGIC FIRE
Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire
0:01 the music begins, it is loud and the tempo is kept steady 0:10 at this point it gets louder and more instruments are introduced 0:21 the melody changes ever so slightly
The French horns are introduced, followed by violins They are about to begin their dancing together on the ballroom floor
0:57 the texture of violins start out soft Just as the bass starts its deep drone in the background Finding the perfect melody between the two Harmony continues with all instruments introduced in to a rhythm
Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire
1:43 Tempo changes at this point, but the tune repeats itself 2:10 The French horn takes over the lead 2:31 French horn is heard more loudly 2:50 Instruments are changing in perfect pitch 3:00 A balancing act, more than one chorus is achieved 3:40 Highlight of the performance, drama is expressed fully 4:13 The timbre softens with violins, the cello then changes the
dynamics and the depth 4:43 It’s like the beginning of happy times, not wanting it to end
Wotan’s Farewell and the Magic Fire
6:10 A fine balancing act between form and harmony 6:38 Perfect harmony, soft peace 7:11 Sadness, bad news are delivered 7:20 more of the soft form reappears as if the last decision was made 7:55 The volumes drops, it appears that the story ends 8:13 the audience is recaptured, bringing back happiness and joy 8:31 an earlier melody is repeated 9:00 joy has returned
Wotan’s Farewell and the Magic Fire
9:32 The pitch increases but it goes back down 9:51 Sweeter and softer tune is introduced 10:27 Dramatic role is brought back a notion of something bad is done 11:09 Things have gotten better assemble has turned soft and cheery 11:23 Drum role was brought back and it’s gone with buzz frenzy 11:44 Happy is back it increases in volume softly with caution 11:50 Triangle plays like rain drops amongst biggest and most powerful 12:32 Happy moment reappears in very delicate form
Wotan’s Farewell and the Magic Fire
12:50 This part shows what the piece stands for it all 13:23 A mix of colors are brought as intro to two pieces combined 13:25 Third component of written story is introduced 14:38 It all end in delicate form
Bibliography RICHARD WAGNER & WOTAN’S FAREWELL & MAGIC FIRE
Bibliography
"Bayreuther Festspiele." "Composer Bio: Richard Wagner -
Indianapolis Opera.“ Die Walküre: Performance History.“ "Die Walküre." Richard Wagner:
Wagner Operas and Music Dramas. Encyclopedia Britannica- Gluck
Encyclopedia Britannica- Battle of Leipzig
PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. "Richard Wagner." Music History 102. "Richard Wagner." Rhapsody. "Watch Listen Learn." SF Symphony.