The leitmotif
Example: The leitmotif recurs throughout the symphony, uniting its themes.
Definition
"The leitmotif" is a recurring musical theme associated with a particular idea, character, or situation, often used in operas and symphonies to unify and enhance storytelling through music.
Etymology
The term "the leitmotif" comes from the German words 'leit,' meaning 'leading,' and 'Motif,' meaning 'motive' or 'theme.' It was popularized in the 19th century by composer Richard Wagner, who used it extensively in his operas to represent characters or concepts.
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"The leitmotif" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Music - (C2) - set 1", containing 99 commonly used words.
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