leitmotiv
Signature musical phrase
Leitmotiv is a recurring musical theme associated with a particular character, situation, or idea—a technique especially associated with Wagner's operas.
The term extends to any dominant recurring element in art or life: Betrayal is the leitmotiv of his novels.
Also spelled leitmotif.
Central recurring concept
- WagnerGerman Romantic opera composer
- operaTheatrical art combining song
- recurrentHappening multiple times
- orchestralFor a symphony ensemble
Tristan · score · composition · melody · symphonic · refrain · passage · instrumentation
Rule that directs conduct
- threadFiber for stitching
- hallmarkDistinguishing characteristic or mark
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
thesis · core message · underlying theme · touchstone · essence · throughline · constant · refrain
theme
Central recurring concept
- WagnerGerman Romantic opera composer
- operaTheatrical art combining song
- recurrentHappening multiple times
orchestral · Tristan · score · composition · melody · symphonic · refrain · passage · instrumentation · chromatic
guiding principle
Rule that directs conduct
- threadFiber for stitching
- hallmarkDistinguishing characteristic or mark
- signatureHandwritten name for verification
keynote · thesis · core message · underlying theme · touchstone · essence · throughline · constant · refrain · mantra
recurring theme
Repeated subject or idea
imagery · metaphor · Proust · madeleine · Mann · allegory · foreshadowing · repetition · thematic · Dickens
leitmotivdiscontinuity
Break in continuity
fragmentation · incoherence · randomness · disconnection · aimlessness