Leitmotif

Leitmotif, from German Leitmotiv, literally "leading motif," is a short musical phrase associated with a specific character, idea, or situation. The term was popularized by 19th-century opera composer Richard Wagner, though the technique predated him and has roots in earlier dramatic music.

In practice, a leitmotif is a recurring musical idea that appears in different contexts, often undergoing transformation in tempo, key, texture, or orchestration to reflect narrative changes. It is distinct from a general motif in that its primary function is narrative signaling: listeners learn to associate the motif with a person, concept, or place, and the motif's return reinforces or foreshadows events.

In opera and cycle-based drama, leitmotifs are extensively used to map the evolving plot and character psychology. Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen features a complex web of motifs linked to figures like Wotan, Brünnhilde, and the Ring itself, as well as abstract ideas such as Fate and Love. Later composers and librettists elaborated similar systems.

In film and television, leitmotifs are a common storytelling device. John Williams's Star Wars score uses multiple motifs for characters and ideas—such as the hero, the dark side, and Leia—while the Jaws theme serves as a two-note leitmotif signaling the presence of the shark.

The concept has adapted to video games, where recurring musical ideas accompany player actions or narrative milestones. Though often used interchangeably with motif, leitmotif specifically denotes a character- or concept-associated fragment that recurs throughout a work to guide the listener's emotional or narrative understanding.