Books about Wagner's Ring cycle.

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

FYI, I found a couple of texts that try to explain, or express the depth of, Wagner's operatic cycle.

Anybody who's examined these operatic stories for ten minutes (5 for me) knows that they run deep.

The first is "Ring of Power" by Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D., who is a Jungian psychiatrist, and who examines the stories from a feminist perspective. Very insightful, describing the action and tying it all together in psycho-analysis. You may not like some of her commentary, but overall it works and takes the reader deeper into the mythology than just a storyline can. She also notes the connection between "The Ring of the Nibelung" and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". What goes around ... Published by Nicolas-Hays, York Beach ME, 1999.

The other book is shorter, "Wagner's Ring, Turning the Sky Around", by M. Owen Lee. Quoted from the back cover: "This volume contains reworked intermission talks that Father Owen Lee gave during broadcasts of the Ring cycle in 1989 ... In this brief book, one can learn a great deal about the specifics of the stories, what underlies them, and the history of the times surrouding the composition." Quote credited to the Opera News. This compact book has a lot of anecdotal info. Published by Limelight Editions, New York, 1998. Owen includes a discography at the end, both in video and audio -- cd and lp varieties.

I'm reading up somewhat, but this is clearly a black hole that can draw you in and never let you out. The music for the four operas has more than 200 themes. The story apparently has more than that.

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Topic - Books about Wagner's Ring cycle. - free.ranger 20:57:48 08/09/07 (8)

I loved "Ring Resounding" - John Marks 09:12:15 08/11/07 (1)

I've enjoyed "The Ring of the Nibelung" by - Travis 15:18:59 08/11/07 (0)

Ernest Newman "The Wagner Operas"... - SE 09:08:42 08/10/07 (0)

RE: Books about Wagner's Ring cycle. - no1maestro 08:36:39 08/10/07 (0)

RE: Books about Wagner's Ring cycle. - Charlie F. 06:59:18 08/10/07 (2)

Second the Shaw! nt - clarkjohnsen 11:47:30 08/10/07 (0)

RE: Books about Wagner's Ring cycle. - msk58 09:34:41 08/10/07 (0)

Two more nominations. - tlyyra 03:15:28 08/10/07 (0)

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