Het leitmotiv
Example: Het leitmotiv in de symfonie keert telkens terug voor herkenning.
Definition
"Het leitmotiv" is a recurring musical theme associated with a particular idea, character, or situation, often used in symphonies or operas to help listeners recognize and follow the narrative or emotional development throughout the piece.
Etymology
The term "het leitmotiv" comes from the German word 'Leitmotiv,' meaning 'leading motif.' It was adopted into Dutch as 'het leitmotiv' and originally referred to a guiding musical theme in Wagnerian opera. Did you know the word literally means 'leading motive,' highlighting its role in guiding the listener through the music?
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"Het leitmotiv" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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the leitmotif