Die Walkuere – Ride of the Valkyries (ACT 3, Sc. 1): Conductor Score

The Ride of the Valkyries refers to the beginning of act 3 of Die Walkure, the second of the four operas constituting Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. As a separate piece, the Ride is often heard in a purely instrumental version, as in this edition by William Ryden. Together with the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, the Ride of the Valkyries is one of Wagner’s best-known pieces. The main theme of the Ride, the leitmotif labelled Walkurenritt, was first written down by the composer on 23 July 1851. The preliminary draft for the Ride was composed in 1854 as part of the composition of the entire opera, which was fully orchestrated by the end of March 1856.