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momentous question；〃Is marriage a failure？〃
Next we have the 〃_Bruder_Hoch_zu_Ross_Motiv_〃 （Brothers on a High Horse
Motive）； announced by sparkling Tetrazzini chromatics； always at sixes and
sevens； darting and dashing； centaur…like； in semi…demi…quavers； like
horses' manes and tails mounting skyward； whinnyingly。 Fatima's brothers
have come to make a wedding visit to their beloved sister； whom they
believe happily united to a nobleman of high degree。 They have also come
because in a music…drama action is demanded and choruses are desirable；
being noisy； impressive； popular； comparatively cheap； and the participants
less temperamental in character than soloists； therefore more easily
managed。
＇Bruder Hoch zu Ross Motiv＇ （with devil…may…care speed。）
If you miss some of the wonderful sinuosity； some of the musical curvatures
of the similar 〃Horses in a Hurry Motive〃 in 〃Die Walku're；〃 I can only
suggest that the Brothers' mounts were not as the fleet steeds of the gods。
Fatima's people were living in genteel poverty； and the family horses were
doubtless some…what emaciated； therefore the musical realist could not in
honesty depict them other than in an angular rather than curved movement。
The overture next takes up the arrival of the Brothers； who； as the music
plainly assures us； dismount； feed their steeds； perform a simple toilette
at the stable…yard pump； and then come suddenly upon Bluebeard； whose
frenzy for disposing of fresh wives is as sudden and as all…absorbing as
his desire to annex them。 At the moment of the Brothers' opportune arrival
Bluebeard is on the point of severing Fatima's relations with the world。
The Brothers advance。 A cloud of dust envelops them； they rush forward；
dealing telling blows； and the frantic bleating of fleeing sheep is heard
in a wild double…tonguing of the united brass instruments； very effective；
especially in the open air； though a little trying to nervous ladies in the
front rows of an opera…house。 This is the celebrated
〃_Kilkennische_Katzen_Motiv_〃 （Motive of Mortal Combat）。 It is a syncopated
movement； and when given at the piano； is to be played furiously； first
with one hand and then with the other； till the performer is quite weary。
＇Kilkennische Katzen Motiv＇ （ad infinitum； until one is deceased）
We find all through these measures most peculiar phrases； introduced by
half…formed musical rhythms； which are a presentiment of the mental unrest
and nervous prostration of Fatima； who does not know whether Bluebeard will
kill the Brothers or the Brothers will kill Bluebeard。 She has never been
an opera…goer and does not realize that there are inexorable laws in these
matters and that the villain always dies； that he agrees in his contract to
die； no matter how healthy he may be； no matter how much he dislikes it nor
how slight the provocation。 However； this scene is made notable by the
famous 〃Suspense Motive；〃 one hundred and seven…teen bars of doubt given by
the big brasses and contra…bassoons。
There is much in this sort of programme music that is not easily
intelligible to a young man who； having purchased an admission ticket； is
wandering from back to back of one opera…box after another； but when fully
comprehended； these special phrases are replete with emotion and insight。
Several motives are so dexterously woven into one gush of melody that they
cannot be disentangled by any ordinary method； and have to be wrenched
apart by the enthusiast； who employs； when milder means fail； a sort of
intellectual dynamite to extricate the meaning from the score。 With the aid
of this lecture； which is better than an ear…trumpet and a
magnifying…glass； we can； however； trace a 〃_Schwert_Motiv_〃 （Sword
Motive）； showing the weapons used in the combat； the 〃_Glu'ckseligkeit_
_Motiv_〃 （Felicity Motive）； well named； for we must remember that Fatima is
witnessing the duel from the castle window； her heart beating high at the
prospect of widowhood； and； toward the end； the famous
〃_Ausgespielt_Motiv_〃 （Motive of Spent Strength and Spilled Blood）。
＇Glu'ckseligkeit Motiv＇
＇Ausgespielt Motiv＇
The 〃_Ausgespielt_Motiv_〃 is written in four flats； but as a matter of fact
only one person is flat； viz。： Blue…beard； who has just been slain by
Mustapha。 The other three flats must refer to the sheep accidentally hit by
the younger brothers； who aim for Bluebeard； but miss him； being
indifferent marksmen。
Why does the union of these _motive_； 〃_Bruder_Hoch_zu_Ross〃 （Brothers on a
High Horse）； 〃_Kilkennische_Katzen_〃 （Mortal Combat）； 〃_Schwert_〃 （Sword）；
〃_Glu'ckseligkeit_〃 （Felicity of Fatima）； and 〃_Ausgespielt_〃 （Spent
Strength and Spilled Blood）； when blended in one majestically discordant
whole； produce upon us a feeling of profound grief mingled with hysterical
mirth？
＇Ensemble Motiv Blaubart…Schwert…_Glu'ckseligkeit_…Leichen＇
And why do the measures grow more and more sad as they melt into the
touching 〃_Blut_auf_dem_Mond_Motiv_〃 （Blood…on…the…Moon Motive）？
＇Blut auf dem Mond Motiv＇ （slowly and with infinite pathos）
Simply because in a mortal combat somebody is invariably wounded and
sometimes killed。 Wagner sang of human life as it is； not as it might；
could； would； or should be。 From the 〃_Blut_auf_dem_Mond_Motiv_〃
（Blood…on…the…Moon Motive） we glide at once into a dirge； the 〃_Leichen_；〃
or Corpse； Motive； one of those superb funeral marches with which we are
familiar in the other music…dramas of Wagner； for the master； though not an
Irishman； is never so happy as on these funeral occasions。
＇Leichen Motiv＇
If any brainless and bigoted box…holder should ask why the 〃_Blaubart_
_Motiv_〃 is repeated in this funeral march； I ask him in return how he
expects otherwise to know who is killed？ Will he take the trouble to
reflect that these are the motives of the _Vorspiel_； and that the curtain
has not yet risen on the music…drama？
But why； he asks； do we hear an undercurrent of mirth pulsating joyously
through the prevailing sadness of this 〃Leichen_Motiv_；〃 or funeral march？
Simply because we cannot be expected to feel the same unmixed grief at the
death of a wife…murderer as at the death of a wife…preserver！ Ah； where
shall we find again so subtle a reading of the throbbing heart of humanity！
The 〃_Schwert_Motiv_〃 mingles again with the haunting strains of the
half…sad； half…glad 〃_Leichen_Motiv_；〃 until the _Vorspiel_ ends abruptly
with a single note of ineffable meaning； thus：
＇Tod und Ho'lle Motiv＇ （off the keyboard to the left）
This is very interesting to the student； and means much； if it means
any…thing。 The sword of the elder brother； Mustapha； has gone through
Bluebeard； if not the swords of the other Brothers。 This； you say； might
not have been necessarily fatal； since those hardy ruffians of a bygone age
were proof against many a stab； but in this case the sword of the heroic
Mustapha was accompanied by the killing 〃Schwert Motiv；〃 consequently the
villain is dead。
But what has become of him？ We have the one clue only； which will be known
by all students in future as the 〃_Tod_und_Ho'lle_ _Motiv_；〃 just given
above： Bluebeard has gone where we will not fol