His daughter , his dearest child , the Valkyrie Brünnhilde , has betrayed him , granting victory to Siegmund in battle against his will . As punishment , Brünnhilde becomes a mortal woman ; but because Wotan initially intended to grant Siegmund victory in battle , he lays his daughter within a protective circle of fire : any who fear his spear will never be able to cross it .
The anguish , turmoil , tension , and resolve of Wotan ’ s decision and Brünnhilde ’ s acceptance of it overflow in Wagner ’ s score . The Valkyrie leitmotif emerges in a thick fortissimo texture , dropping back as Wotan sings farewell to his daughter and explains the parameters of her punishment and possibility of release . Here , Wagner ’ s orchestration strikes a deft balance between making room for Wotan while enhancing the emotional intensity through crescendos and repeated motives . When Wotan and Brünnhilde leave the stage , the orchestra takes on a sorrowful and resigned character that turns angry and purposeful as Wotan returns , calls upon Loge to set the ring of fire around his daughter , and declares that only the most noble , courageous man may save his beloved child from a life surrounded by flames . A sweet , tender melody is repeated and passed between woodwinds and lower strings , a held note in brass and woodwinds bringing this section of the story to a close .
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Instrumentation Three flutes , two piccolos , three oboes , English horn , three clarinets , bass clarinet , three bassoons , eight horns , three trumpets , bass trumpet , four trombones , tuba , two timpani , percussion , two harps , and strings .
Musical Terms Romantic period : A stylistic movement from approximately 1800 to 1910 . Romantic composers established a sound that is characterized as individualistic , emotional , and dramatic . Leitmotif : A recurrent musical theme throughout a composition , associated with a particular person , idea , or situation . Tremolo : Rapidly moving the bow back and forth to create a trembling effect . Fortissimo : A very loud passage , sound , or tone . Crescendo : A gradual increase in volume .
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