Music Das Rheingold was Wagner's first attempt to write dramatic music in accordance with the principles he had enunciated in Opera and Drama, hence the general absence in the score of conventional operatic "numbers" in the form of arias, ensembles and choruses. Rather than acting as the accompanist to the voices, the orchestra combines with them on equal terms to propel the drama forward. According to Barry Millington's analysis, Das Rheingold represents Wagner's purest application of the Opera and Drama principles, a rigorous stance that he would eventually modify. Even in Rheingold, as Jacobs indicates, Wagner was flexible when the dramatic occasion warranted it; thus, the Rhinemaidens sing in the disavowed ensembles, and there are several instances in which characters sing melodies that appear to be musically independent from the general flow. The music is continuous, with instrumental entr'actes linking the actions of the four discrete scenes.
musiC das rheinGold waS Wagner's FirsT atteMpT To wRiTe dRAmaTiC mUSiC In acCordance wiTh thE PrinciPLes hE hAD enunciAted In opera and DRamA, hEnce thE gENErAl absencE in thE ScORE Of cOnventiONal oPeRAtic "nuMbeRs" in the Form oF aRIaS, eNsEMBLes and cHOruses. rATher than acTing As tHe accompanISt to tHE voiCes, The orchEstra coMbiNes wItH Them On equal termS to propEl the drAma foRwaRD. accorDInG to Barry mIlliNgton's analySIs, dAs rhEinGOlD REpreSentS wAgneR's pUrest aPpliCatIon of The oPera And dRama pRincipLes, a riGOROus staNcE THaT hE wOuld evENTuAlly ModifY. even in rheingoLd, as Jacobs indiCatEs, wagNer was FleXiBLE when thE DraMatIC ocCASIOn warraNTEd It; tHuS, THe RHinemaIdeNS sInG in the dIsavowed EnsemblEs, and tHerE are sEVeRal InStanCes in wHIch cHaracTers sInG mElodieS That ApPeAr To Be mUsiCally INDepEndEnt fRom THE gEneRaL fLow. tHe muSIc is contInuous, WiTH insTrUmeNtal ENtr'ACtEs lInking the acTiOns of the fOuR disCreTe sceNeS.