Motives a and b comprise the lament played by the shepherd on his
pipe during Act III. The lament begins with motive a and continues
through motive b. Most analysts do not separate the eight-bar
melody into two distinct motives. Motives c and d likewise
continue the lament, and also receive no distinct labels from most Wagner
scholars.
Motive Labels “Traueriger
Hirtenreigen” or “Mournful Pastoral Song” – (Windsperger,
p. 45) “The Lay
of Sorrow” – (Kobbé, p. 131) “The Plaintive Lay” – (Redlich,
p. 29) “Die traurige
Weise” or “The Sad Lay” – (Pfohl, p. 220) “Sadness” – (Lavignac,
p. 308) Sadness (Alte Weise) – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene Act III: Scene 1
