≫ [PDF] The Ring of Truth The Wisdom of Wagner Ring of the Nibelung [Oct 25 2016] Scruton Roger Roger Scruton 9780241188552 Books

The Ring of Truth The Wisdom of Wagner Ring of the Nibelung [Oct 25 2016] Scruton Roger Roger Scruton 9780241188552 Books

Download As PDF : The Ring of Truth The Wisdom of Wagner Ring of the Nibelung [Oct 25 2016] Scruton Roger Roger Scruton 9780241188552 Books

The Ring of Truth The Wisdom of Wagner Ring of the Nibelung [Oct 25 2016] Scruton Roger Roger Scruton 9780241188552 Books

Roger Scruton has long been known as the philosopher who focused his penetrating and immediately accessible insights on all manner of the arts. While Wagner's Ring Cycle is widely reputed as "difficult" and murky, Scruton reveals it in such a way, act by act, to make it seem entirely understandable and I must say, far more appealing to me. So far, I have found the Ring a hard work to enjoy thoroughly as I do Parsifal or Tristan.
There is also much to offer here for well-seasoned Wagnerites who need no convincing of the importance of this masterpiece. What Scruton does is reveal the great spiritual accomplishment that is the Ring, even despite Wagner's efforts to move society beyond religion. First reviews that I read made knee-jerk assertions that Scruton white-washes Wagner's anti-semitism. I didn't find that at all the case after reading this. It fully embraces Wagner as an ill-behaved and sometimes callous man who was one the greatest and deepest geniuses of the last 200 years for the reasons clearly illuminated throughout. Scruton wisely doesn't believe anti-semitism can entirely define someone. While the modernist wishes they could dismiss anyone who receives PC demerits, thankfully Scruton looks at the whole man here. I loved this work and any music lover should count this as a top ten book along with Charles Rosen's and Letters of Mozart.


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The Ring of Truth The Wisdom of Wagner Ring of the Nibelung [Oct 25 2016] Scruton Roger Roger Scruton 9780241188552 Books Reviews

Unique & profound analysis of Wagner's Ring.
There is a great deal I missed because my musical knowledge is far below the author's. However he did make work a bit to increase that knowledge. I do enjoy the author.
Bought this because I was going to Bayreuth to see my first "Ring." It was extremely helpful. It included a synopsis of each opera. Various historical interpretations were mentioned. Its modern interpretation was interesting. The allusions to musical leit motifs was good, but the musical discussion wasn't that helpful to me. I read it along with a couple of other books including the complete libretto in German/English. Well written, clear, a good start for Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung.
Outstanding analysis of Wagner's Ring. I'll refer to it often in the years to come. The author is an excellent writer who fully appreciates the totality of the Ring Cycle and articulates the elements of the piece that keep Wagner-lovers enthralled. I highly recommend it to any Ring fan.
Insightful, clear. Slightly gushing, but you'd probably only be reading it if you were also a fan. Contains thought provoking analyses of leitmotifs which inspire further listening (as though you need another reason!)
The Ring Of Truth is a superb work of criticism in the best tradition. But it is also unique, because it encompasses the identification of themes in the cadence of a major work of music alongside what is deeply buried in its conception for the delight of all of us. Scruton is a conductor, leading us to appreciate the great music while unearthing the mythology which is an integral part of The Ring. Great, great work!
This is not bedtime reading. I don't know much about music, so unfortunately the technical parts the music were lost to me. But I did understand what he was getting at saying words and story are not adequate to understand the Ring, rather the music raises the unconscious archetypes and myths we carry and make the opera interesting and complete. I went to youtube to listen to the leitmotifs that Wagner used to signal something at various point in the work, like the innocent nature of the Rhine-daughters or the recurring theme of Alberich's renunciation. I am familiar enough with modern German philosophy that I fully enjoyed Scruton's analysis of the threads of Wagner's story. I appreciated that Scruton took the time to explore alternative views. 4 stars is a pretty good rating for me, one of the top handful of books this year.
Roger Scruton has long been known as the philosopher who focused his penetrating and immediately accessible insights on all manner of the arts. While Wagner's Ring Cycle is widely reputed as "difficult" and murky, Scruton reveals it in such a way, act by act, to make it seem entirely understandable and I must say, far more appealing to me. So far, I have found the Ring a hard work to enjoy thoroughly as I do Parsifal or Tristan.
There is also much to offer here for well-seasoned Wagnerites who need no convincing of the importance of this masterpiece. What Scruton does is reveal the great spiritual accomplishment that is the Ring, even despite Wagner's efforts to move society beyond religion. First reviews that I read made knee-jerk assertions that Scruton white-washes Wagner's anti-semitism. I didn't find that at all the case after reading this. It fully embraces Wagner as an ill-behaved and sometimes callous man who was one the greatest and deepest geniuses of the last 200 years for the reasons clearly illuminated throughout. Scruton wisely doesn't believe anti-semitism can entirely define someone. While the modernist wishes they could dismiss anyone who receives PC demerits, thankfully Scruton looks at the whole man here. I loved this work and any music lover should count this as a top ten book along with Charles Rosen's and Letters of Mozart.