by Martin S. Richter (Author)
Orchestral Symbolism In Wagner's Das Rheingold uncovers a new layer of meaning concealed in the orchestration of Wagner's Ring. While leitmotives have helped stage directors, conductors, and audiences appreciate the work on a deeper level, they are no longer the final word. Richter presents considerable evidence that Wagner used orchestral scorings to represent another symbolic subtext, one that has been hidden for over a century. First published in 1980, Martin S. Richter's newly-revised edition includes evidence from prominent leitmotives, analyses of instrumental and vocal sections, symbolic references, and discusses the implications of orchestral symbolism to craft a more sensitive and nuanced production of Das Rheingold.
Author Biography
Martin S. Richter earned a B.F.A. in Music Theory from Carnegie-Mellon University, and also studied Theory at University of Chicago and Northwestern University. He has taught Music History and Theory in adjunct and Guest Lecturer positions at Carnegie-Mellon, and won the CMU Orchestration Award in 1980. Mr. Richter has worked as a piano soloist for over thirty years. As an elementary educator, Mr. Richter has written for Teaching K-8, and has also authored Our Living Language: Word Inventions, a classroom adaptation of Valmiki's Ramayana, and A Viking Reader. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife and daughter. To learn more about Martin S. Richter, visit www.martinsrichter.com.