Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung
by Stewart Spencer, Richard Wagner, Barry Millington
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Book Summary Information
Author: Barry Millington, Richard Wagner, Stewart SpencerEdition: Paperback
Audio: German (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-11
ISBN: 0500281947
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Book Reviews of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung
Book Review: Profound Work of Art
Summary: 5 Stars
I studied "The Nibelungenlied" in college and was so mesmerized by the story that I had a linden leaf tattooed on my back. Since then, I have read Nordic sagas of the Siegfried legend. This was my first read of Wagner's comprehensive version. It was breathtaking.
Wagner draws from all versions of the legend. In addition to "The Nibelungenlied," he uses "The Saga of the Volsungs" and other Nordic versions such as the "Prose Edda."
Wagner's ambitious work was composed under the nationalistic fervour of 19th Century Germany. He believed "The Nibelungenlied" to be for Germany what "The Iliad" was for Greece or "The Aeneid" was for Rome. Thus he populates his German forests and rivers with mythological gods and faeries, and his human heroes are imbued with heroic courage and strength reminiscent of Achilles and Aeneas.
In his poetry, Wagner proves himself a genius. Like other masters of language, he deftly balances storytelling, emotion, and philosophy. Stewart Spencer's translation is excellent, especially in capturing Wagner's emphasis on alliteration.
See also Wagner's libretto for "Tristan and Isolde," another brilliantly written libretto based on a medieval german text (by Gottfried von Straussberg).
I highly recommend this book. There are seldom times a book will give me chills, and it happened several times when reading this book. And if you are interested in the Siegfried saga, check out The Nibelungenlied.
Summary of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung
The full German text with a new translation and commentaries. There has long been a need for a modern English translation of Wagner's Ring--a version that is reliable and readable yet at the same time is a true reflection of the literary quality of the German libretto. Stewart Spencer's well-reviewed translation, which follows the verse form of the original exactly, has filled that niche. It reads smoothly and idiomatically yet is the result of prolonged thought and deep background knowledge. The translation is accompanied by Spencer's introductory essay on the libretto and a series of specially commissioned texts by Barry Millington, Roger Hollinrake, Elizabeth Magee, and Warren Darcy that discuss the cycle's musical structure, philosophical implications, medieval sources, and Wagner's own changing attitude to its meaning. With a glossary of names, a review of audio and video recordings, and a select bibliography, the book serves as an essential complement to Wagner's great epic. 16 b/w illustrations.Wagner Books
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