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Tristan and Isolde, Invocation of Night (a and b)
Tristan and Isolde Motives
Tristan and Isolde Motives
"Invocation of Night (a)" – the melody line extracted.


Tristan and Isolde Motives
"Invocation of Night (b)" – the underlying harmonies.


Motive 26a appears first in the score and is realized in a hymn-like setting as shown in Motive 26b.  According to Albert Lavignac, Motive 26a becomes an “important ensemble of striking beauty.”  The hymn-like setting of Motive 26b accompanies the following text:

“O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe” or “Descend upon us, night of passion”

Motive Labels (a)
“Invocation to Night” – (Lavignac, p. 299)

Motive Labels (b)

“Hymnus der Liebe, Weltennacht” or “Hymn of Love, Worldly Night” – (Pfohl, p. 215)
“The Night of Love” – (Hight, p. 280)
“Liebesduett” or  “Love Duet” – (Windsperger, p. 43)

Invocation of Night – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene

Act II: Scenes 2-3
Act III: Scene 1-2
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