a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas)
a motif or theme associated with a person, place, or idea
a motif or theme associated with aperson, place, or idea
a musical theme or motive, associated with a particular person, idea or thing in an opera
a phrase or melodic cell that signifies a character, place, plot element, mood, idea, relationship or other specific part of the film
a piece of music used repeatedly to represent a character or action
a musical fragment with a dramatic meaning which recurs and develops in the course of an opera
A recurring image or pattern of words.
musical themes that represent literary characters
The Wagnerian technique of linking musical phrases with particular characters or story elements and repeatedly playing those phrases in multiple variations. See also "motif" and "theme".
As used by the German opera composer Richard Wagner, leitmotifs are short musical phrases that symbolically represent characters, objects, emotions, situations, and ideas. The Course uses leitmotifs as well--only instead of a musical phrase, the Course will use a short verbal phrase, which, as in Wagner's operas, brings to mind the thing it represents, and all the layers of meaning associated with that thing, each time the phrase is repeated. ( Note: in the Course, leitmotifs are not always repeated word-for-word, but may appear in slightly-altered form, or as close synonyms that express the same idea). Examples of leitmotifs in the Course include "the fear of God," "the veil before the face of Christ," "reason would tell you...," "the little gap," and "the memory of God."
"Leading Motive". Use of a musical phrase to identify with a certain person, place or thing in a dramatic work, especially an opera, usually repeated every time its referrant appeared in the work.
A basic recurring theme, representing a person, object or idea, commonly used in Wagner's operas.
a short musical idea or theme used by a composer to represent a character, a thing, or an idea. A leitmotif appears throughout a musical work each time a composer wishes to remind his listeners of the subject it represents.
A leitmotif is a musical theme associated with a particular character or idea.
A theme or other musical idea the represents or symbolizes a person, object, place, idea, state of mind, supernatural force or some other ingredient in a dramatic work. An idea used widely throughout German opera, though associated with Richard Wagner in most of his operas.
a short melodic 'idea', sometimes of only a few notes, which is used by a composer to signify someone or something in an operatic story. The German composer Richard Wagner developed the leitmotif to give unity to his sprawling, mythologically inspired music dramas like Tristan und Isolde and Der Ring des Nibelungens. In this epic four-part opera, there is a leitmotif for every character, every significant emotion, every prop (the sword, the tarnhelm, the Rhinegold), elements of nature (the river, fire, the forest, the forest bird) and every psychological state the exerts an influence on the drama which, when fully developed, provide a complex musical fabric through which Wagner weaves the story. But other composers followed his example and it is not unusual to hear composers using the leitmotif 'system' even today.
(LITE-mow-teef) Literally, "leading motif." A musical device developed by Wagner in which a short melody as brief as three notes references a character, an emotion, or some other element in the story, then recurs as the opera progresses, adding further layers of meaning.
or leitmotiv: German: n. leading motive in music or literature; a basic underlying, recurrent theme.
Like a regular motif, but less filling.