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Tristan and Isolde, Motives 8 and 9 Combined
Tristan and Isolde Motives
Tristan and Isolde Motives



This melodic segment is further divided into two independent phrases labeled Motives 8 and 9 Combined.  This segment proves interesting because the upper line has been described as the “Love Potion” or “Love Philtre” motive by many analysts, yet the lower line has been described as the “Fate Motive.”  This three-measure segment foreshadows the events to come in the next two acts of the opera.  Lavignac actually labels the first measure (plus the downbeat of the following measure) of this combined motive “The Death Potion.”

Labels for Motives 8 and 9 Combined
“Love Glance” – (Kobbé, p. 111)
“The Glance" – (Lavignac, p. 285)
Blickmotiv” or “Look Motive” – (Pfohl, p. 216)
“Look Motive” or “Glance Motive” – (Newman, in Bailey, p. 155)


Motive 8 and 9 – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene
Act I: Prelude, Scenes 3-5
Act II: Scenes 1-2
Act III: Scenes 1-2


Tristan and Isolde Motives

Scruton describes Motive 8 as a variation of Motive 6.  This is interesting considering Cleather labels Motive 6 the “Love Potion,” and Newman labels Motive 8 as a continuation of the “Love Philtre” (Bailey, p. 156).

Motive 8 – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene
Act I: Prelude, Scenes 3-5
Act II: Scenes 1-2
Act III: Scenes 1-2


Tristan and Isolde Motives

Labels for Motive 9
“Fate” – (Newman, in Bailey, p. 156) and (Kobbé, p. 118)
“Verhängnis” or “Downfall"
Schicksal,” “Schiksalsmotiv” or “Fate,” “Fate Motive”– (Pfohl, p. 214, 224)
“Death Draught” – (Redlich, p. 23)
“Poison”
“Death”
“Drink of Death”

Motive 9 – Order of occurrence by Act and Scene
Act I: Prelude, Scenes 3-5
Act II: Scenes 1-2
Act III: Scenes 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