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Tristan and Isolde, Liebestod (Love-Death)
Tristan and Isolde Motives
Tristan and Isolde Motives



This motive accompanies the lines, “So should we die, no more to part, ever one in endless joy.”  Scruton claims that this is a variation of Longing due to the descending line of three half steps.

Motive Labels
“So stürben wir…” – (Fischer, p. 14) and (Redlich, p. 26)
“Liebestod” or “Love-Death” – (Kobbé, p. 127)
“Liebestod, Unendlichkeit” or “Love Death, Infinity” – (Pfohl, p. 215)
“Song of Death” – (Lavignac, p. 304)
“Scheidegesang (auch Motiv von Isoldes Liebestod)” or “Parting Song (also a motive of Isolde’s Love-death)” – (Windsperger, p. 44)

Liebestod – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene

Act II: Scenes 2-3
Act III: Scenes 2-3
Tristan and Isolde
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Copyright ©2007 by Matthew Heisterman and John Weinstock, All Rights Reserved

Motive Clips by Deutsche Grammophon  |  Based on Work by Rachel Mitchell and Christine Emily Boone