December 2011
6 posts
Twilight of the Gods, Funeral March
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner - Twilight of the Gods, Funeral March
I love how triumphant the melody of Siegfried’s funeral turns, sounding as if it were a war march, and less a funeral procession. The themes of death blending along with a war-like victory tune, seems all but to allude to some victory beyond the grave, or the coming redemption to be kindled on his pyre in the following Acts…
The Burning Babe
As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow ;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear ;
Who, scorched with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I !
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns ;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men’s defiled souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I called unto mind that it was Christmas day.
~St. Robert Southwell
