The meaning of this motive is thoroughly explained when Siegmund in "Die Walküre" sees the sword in the tree in Hunding's house, and the trumpet in the orchestra intones the phrase in a manner not to be mistaken. None of the motives in these Wagnerian dramas are composed arbitrarily. The poet-musician used every resource of music—melody, harmony, rhythm, and instrumental color—to make them, in the fullest sense of the word, expressive. Occasionally he fell into the error of trying to embody in music purely intellectual processes, which are quite beyond the scope of musical expression. But no one need ever be at a loss as to his meaning, because the organic union between text and music is so perfect that one always explains the other. For example, in the final scene of "Die Walküre" Brünnhilde announces to Sieglinde that she will become the mother of a great hero, Siegfried, in this passage:—
[Listen: "Die Walküre" Brünnhilde]
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["Die Walküre" Brünnhilde.]
The high-est he-ro of worlds
Hid'st thou, O wife, in shel-ter-ing shrine
And we forthwith learn to associate that music with Siegfried in his character of hero. Sieglinde answers Brünnhilde thus:
[Listen: "Die Walküre" Sieglinde]
