The Forging of the ‘Ring’ (book) • p16 • Chapter 3 • full chapter on the composition sketches, plus appendix containing facsimile of prelude and start of Scene 1
Understanding the Leitmotif (book) • p264 • Musical 'Mickey Mousing' in scene 1; "prelude-as-drama is precursor to the use of title-music-as-drama in film'"; recitative type 'underscoring' in The Ring where music is less compelling = Rossini's "wonderful moments and dreadful quarters of an hour"