master-song

-- When all are assembled, Pogner declares his intention of giving his daughter to the winner of the master-song on the day of St John's festival, and all applaud his resolution.

The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas Charles Annesley

She tells him that her hand is promised to the winner of the prize for a master-song, to be sung on the following morning.

The Standard Operaglass Detailed Plots of One Hundred and Fifty-one Celebrated Operas Charles Annesley

Sachs then declares that this is indeed a master-song, and will win Walther the prize he so much desires; he and Walther go off to attire themselves for the contest, and Beckmesser limps in.

Richard Wagner Runciman, John F 1913

He lays before them his idea of giving, with proper ceremony, a name to the master-song born in his house.

The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

-- "A beautiful song, and a master-song, how am I to seize the distinction between them?" asks the singer of the beautiful song which had been despised.

The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

Whereupon Kothner proceeds, addressing Walther: "Are you prepared, now, at once, to attempt an original master-song, new in conception, original both in text and tune?"

The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

Then Walther relates his dream, meeting Sachs's request for a master-song by casting it as he goes, with the light ease of genius, into verse and melody, -- his second astonishing improvisation, joyous as the first, but not agitated -- reflective, as if he filled Sordello's account of himself: "_I 'mi son un che quando Amore spira, noto, e quel che detta dentro vo significando. _"

The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

"Listen, child," Sachs bids Eva, in the short pause between the verses, "that is a master-song!"

The Wagnerian Romances Gertrude Hall Brownell 1912

Sachs then declares that this is indeed a master-song, and will win Walther the prize he so much desires; he and

Richard Wagner Composer of Operas John F. Runciman 1891

Walther pleads his suit with Eva and her maidservant Magdalena; then we have the apprentices, amongst them Magdalena's sweetheart David, to some rollicking choruses and to their own music -- the burghers 'music played four times as fast; and next David instructs Walther in the rules to be observed if he wishes to compose a master-song and to be admitted to the guild.

Richard Wagner Composer of Operas John F. Runciman 1891