Thread by @Wagner2_0

#WednesdayWagner Hoiho! Finally you are going to calm down your abstinence syndrome of the best composer EVER! Let's two of the strongest characters ever: WOTAN and BRÜNNHILDE (part 1). And today with no sheet music examples, just audio excerpts. Hojotoho!!
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#WednesdayWagner Since Wotan is always carrying a spear that points down when threatening people, the spear motive is a downside scale with a peculiar beginning that reminds us about the Valhalla theme: 

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#WednesdayWagner The analogy is very clear, and it even seems quite trivial ... just a scale!!! But, how can a genius use this motive, the one that kids learn on the first day at music school? That's the real question, at least for me
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#WednesdayWagner Firstly, this scale can be placed over any key and starting by any pitch of this scale, so it can be easily combined with other leitmotifs. Compare the previous excerpt with this one taken from "Die Walküre": 
 
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#WednesdayWagner Secondly, these scales can have different lengths, because after a few pitches, everybody recognizes the Wotan's Spear leitmotif. As a proof, go to 0:28:10 below (also from "Die Walküre), where shorter leitmotifs appear

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#WednesdayWagner There are many more examples in the whole Tetralogy (or Trilogy with Prologue 🙂), but it is clear that the flexibility of such a "trivial" element is a real virtue when planning a gigantic work as the Ring Cycle
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#WednesdayWagner In fact, listen the very finale of the cycle and you will identify a huge amount of them with chromaticisms, modifications and all this stuff (you can enjoy the whole finale before continuing reading 😍) #TwitterCultural

#WednesdayWagner For sure, all of you have noticed that Brünnhilde evolves during the whole cycle and, roughly speaking, replaces Wotan as the key character that acts freely without being manipulated. Is this also reflected in the music? #TwitterCultural

#WednesdayWagner Of course!! Wagner always tells us much more with the music than with the text. How is our beloved MASTERMIND translating this Wotan's spear theme into Brünnhilde's universe? Again, in a simple but effective way ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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#WednesdayWagner Just keeping the downward direction but, at certain points, moving up 1 octave higher. And relaxing the tempo, sure. The result is amazing and not exactly perceivable. Please, listen 31:42 to 33:19 below (notice the gorgeous orchestration)

#WednesdayWagner The music there is letting us know that Brünnhilde is not a mere Wotan's daughter, but indeed is becoming a centre of power and decision. Of course, the character of the music is not happy, but the root elements are the ones belonging to Wotan
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#WednesdayWagner So it's wonderful to see the incredible power of simple ideas (as a chord, arpeggio or scale) and, again, to appreciate that solid work and coherence are the big differences between an "OK-piece" and a masterpiece 🙂
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#WednesdayWagner We will continue with this Wotan's spear leitmotif in the following weeks, because there is much more to say about its implications within the Ring Cycle. Enjoy the afternoon, my friends!
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