Leitmotiv (Noun)
Meaning
A melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas).
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The composer wove a leitmotiv throughout the symphony to represent the protagonist's quest for justice.
- Wagner's use of leitmotiv in his operas added a new level of depth and complexity to his storytelling.
- Each character in the opera had their own distinct leitmotiv, which was repeated and varied throughout the performance.
- The musical's leitmotiv, a haunting melody, signaled the return of the ghostly figure.
- The leitmotiv associated with the villain was a discordant, jarring phrase that sent shivers down the audience's spines.