IntroductionIn this essay I will examine Richard Wagner's most influential work "Der Ring Des Nibelungen" also known as "The Ring Cycle". This cycle is composed of four works. It begins with the beginning of the world and ends with the fall of the world. This piece begins as a mythical story and ends with modern humanity. This work lasts sixteen hours in total. I will examine the story behind the first work or introduction entitled "Das Rheingold", as well as his use of motifs and his use of development throughout the work. The purpose of this essay is to provide a brief understanding of the complexity of Western music in the 1800s.Richard Wagner: BackgroundRichard Wagner was born in 1813 in Liepzig, Germany.Wagner had a great passion for writing poetry as a child, but the His musical interests were left aside until the age of eighteen. At eighteen he began lessons with Theodor Weinlig in Leipzig, Germany, for a year. His career began in 1833, when he became choir director in Würzburg, Germany. In this period he began to compose and composed in imitation of German Romantic composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven, who was his greatest influence in this period. Wagner's first opera was composed in 1833 called “Die Feen” (The Fairies). This work, however, was not produced until after the composer's death. During the years 1834 and 1836 he worked as musical director of the Madgeburg theatre, where he composed his next opera "Das Liebesverbot" (Forbidden Love). In 1837 he began working as the first musical director of the theater in Riga, Russia. , where he remained until 1839. Wagner subsequently moved to Paris, France, in the hope that he would make his fortune there. However, Wagner began to hate the Fr...... center of paper... listen to the golden motif again. At this point various other new motifs are introduced, to indicate the Tarnhelm etc. Each motif in this work is used to signify the importance of certain characters, scenes, objects, feelings. No melodic phrase is without importance or contribution to the plot. They are used to set scenes that are happening or have yet to happen. Many of the motifs heard in this particular work are also found in later works with some variations. Conclusion The complexity of this work is immediately demonstrated by the first leitmotifs introduced. The most notable thing about these leitmotifs is that they are very strong both melodically and rhythmically. Every tune has a purpose and there are almost no musical phrases used without context. It successfully portrays emotions through musical development.