Motif 28: Love's Sorrow

German names: Liebeswehmotiv, Schmerzenswehmotiv, Wiegenlied

Love's Sorrow (Kirsten Flagstad, 1951; ogg format)

Musical example: Motif 28a - Sorrow with Yearning

Musical example: Motif 28b - Sorrow as inversion of Innocence

The Love's Sorrow motif (A) may have been derived from the short form of the Agony motif (#22b) by expanding intervals: raising the first note by a major third and expanding semitone steps to tones. Both this motif and #22b resemble the inversion of Atonement motif (#34). In example (A) we see the Love's Sorrow motive in conjunction with the Yearning motif in diminution.

In its second form (B), there is a fall of a sixth and the rhythm is slightly changed. This is later modified into the (C) form, which on inversion becomes what I have called the Innocence motif (#38). It is related to the Herzeleide and it is therefore perhaps that von Wolzogen called it, "the second motive of Heart's Affliction".

In example (C), in the string accompaniment to Ich sah das Kind, Love's Sorrow (a) blends into the motif (b) of Nature, as found in the seductive music of the Flower Maidens (compare #25a). Lorenz however saw this Lullaby as a variant of Herzeleide (#19). Love's Sorrow returns to dominate the transformation music of the third act.

Musical example: Motif 28c - Suffering, Sorrow and Nature

References: von Wolzogen ex.16-2 p.93, Lorenz p.124, Lavignac p.462, Kufferath ex.39, Newman ex.56, ENO ex.16-17 and 65, Bauer pp.61-62.