Leitmotívum
Leitmotívum (also spelled leitmotif, leitmotiv or leitmotive) denotes a short, recurring musical idea associated with a person, place, object, emotion or concept within a larger work. Originating in 19th-century German musical drama, the technique is most closely associated with Richard Wagner, who used interconnected motifs to bind the narrative and musical structure of his operas, especially the Ring Cycle.
In practice a leitmotif can be melodic, harmonic, rhythmic or timbral and is often varied, fragmented or
Notable modern examples include John Williams’s themes in film (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), which assign distinct