New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-06
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WAGNER AS A POET.

WAGNER AS A POET,
RICHARD wAGNER'S POEM, THE RING OF The
NIBELUNG.p Explained and in part transisocu
by GEORGE THEODORE DIPPoLD, fh' d. o'o'
pp. 240. Henry Holt a. Co.
The plan Of Mr. Dppolds book. which LOOKS W
the calculation Of Wagners tetralogy for the gem
eral reader rather than for the scholar or musical
amateur, is admirable and would entlte IL 10 care
full aud thorough consideration If the book ltseii
wore NOT 60 povertv-stricken in original thought
What the author has to say about Teutonic mythoi-
orv he quotes from Jacob Grimm; when he ex-
Mains the Eddas he employs the language and ideas
of Professor r D. Anderson; when he finds IL con-
venient To mention the musical setting OF Wag-
ners drama Dr. Francis Hueffer supplies him with
ammunition land even in his translation OF passages
from the poem we have fancied that we could trace
the influence Of John Z. jackson and Alfred For
man. These circumstances may not detract from
the value of his book TO those who have not the
time ,r inclination to make studies at first hand
but they detract materially from the dignity ana
literary importance of the authors labors
Mr. Dippold's purpose is set forth IN the prc,
face. Chiefly it was to consider the literary and
poetic character of The Ring of the NIHiung anu
70 show that Wagner was great poet as well as
composer" His estimate of Wagner Is ex'reihel!
high. He believes that out of the great mass Oh
matter full of contradictory elements 10 be fouhu
IN the ancient literature of the North and the great
mcdiaeyal epic of Germany Richard Wagner IN "a
certain sense created the Nibelung myth anew
endowed IL with most beautiful and harnohious
form, and preserved its spirit true TO Jhe earnesV
traditions By this work. apart nom his ouner
productions Wagner is entitled to hold PROM
inent place among German poets Few s'uuen's
Of Wagner's great drama will question this state
ment. but the sceptica will look IN vain lhroueh
this volume for any evidence of the critical study
which has led Mr.. Dippold to this conclusion
In the first three chapters he VIII ma mafshali-
inc of the primitive elements which Wagner based
his version upon. and in the other four recital
Of the contents Of Wagner's poem with occasional
specimens Of his verse. Wherein hes the cohser-
yation of the early spirit and wherein its harmonl-
ous form the reader is left to discover for himself
About four years ago German critic. who had
done able service for Wagner in his early conflicts,
wrote a book in which he exposed fundamental
discord in Wagner's scheme. In brief this dis
cord lay in a hopeless contradiction placed by
Wagner in the foundation of his literary structure.
The false premise was the Importance attached 70
the magic ring. According to the prophecy OF the
Rhinedau ghters the original guardians OF the god
out of which the ring was made. possession OF the
ring was to bring with it unlimited dominion IN
Mr. Dippold's translation these are their words
Tho realm of the world
BY him shall be won
Who from the Rhinegold
Hath wrought the ring
Imparting measurelcSs power.
The struggle for the possession OF the ring sup
plies the action of the four divisions OF the tetra
ogy. Strangely enough the symbol of universal
dominion does in no single instance confer the
power which possession is said to carry with 1t.
Wotan steals the ring from Alberch; the god is
compelled to yield it up to the giants Fasolt gets
IL but Fafncr contends for it with him and kills
him: Fafner changes himself into a dragon for its
safer keeping but is in turn killed and robbed OF
it by Siegfried the hero gives it to Brunnhildc
Thus it passes into and through the
hands of six personages not one OF
whom save Alberich achieves the slightest
authority, and in the case of Albcrch it only in
oreases his power over the dwarfs who were SUD-
iect to him. Again Wotan learns from Erda that
the gods will be destroyed if ever the Nibelung
RECEIVERS the ring. He begets the VosungS IN order
that this catastrophe be aveIted and the curse
removed by the restoration of the ring to the
Rhinedaughters. No sooner is this restoration ac-
complished, however, through Brunnhide's self
Offering than the burning of Valhall proclams the
end of the gods.
It is possible, we imagine, by dint OF involved
and ingenious reasoning to explain away some OF
Wagner's contradictions but they arc nevertheless
n strange note in the chord which Mr.. DDpold de-
clares harmonious A statement of this fact is not
inconsistent with the most profound admiration
for Wagners work. both literary and musical; but
Mr. Dppold is as little inclined to detect fault In
Wagner as the most violent extremist OF the
Wagner school,