Listening Guide 36: Wagner: Die Walküre, Act III, Opening & Finale

The singer (Wotan) in the finale of Act III of Die Walküre is a tenor.

False

Which best describes the music in this excerpt, which begins about eight seconds into scene 1?

swirling strings and woodwinds with a lively dotted rhythm in French horns and low strings

Which best describes the music in this excerpt, which begins 22 seconds into scene 1?

swirling strings and woodwinds with a lively dotted rhythm in French horns and low strings; and a melody played by brass

The first scene of Act III of Wagner's Die Walküre opens with music that is in which meter?

9/8

In this excerpt, which begins 22 seconds into scene 1, the French horns and then the trumpets play the "Ride" leitmotif:

True

What instruments perform the "Siegfried" leitmotif from the closing of Act III from Die Walküre?

bass

What are the distinguishing features of the "magic sleep" leitmotif from the closing of Act III from Die Walküre?

descending chromatic line that gets quieter

Match the excerpt with the word or phrase that best fits the role of the music in the Act III finale of Die Walküre.

descending trombones = Invocation of Loge, god of fire chromatic woodwinds = Magic sleep motive Wer meines Speeres.. = Siegried motive

Which best describes the meter of the finale of Act III from Die Walküre?

duple

The "Ride" motive played by the brass is called a -. It is played first by the -.

leitmotif French Horns

The finale of Act III from Die Walküre is performed by solo - and -.

low male voice (bass) orchestra

Which best describes the texture of the opening scene of Die Walkuüre?

polyphonic

Which best describes the first seven seconds of scene 1 from Wagner's Die Walküre?

rushing strings and wavering woodwinds

Which best describes the texture in the first minute of the finale of Act III?

solo low male voice (bass) with orchestra

What instruments perform the "slumber" leitmotif from the closing of Act III from Die Walküre?

woodwinds

What instruments are featured during the "magic fire" leitmotif in the finale of Act III?

woodwinds and French horn