What is a leitmotif?
Q: What is a leitmotif?
A: A leitmotif is a little musical theme that is often repeated in a piece of music, usually in opera. It can be linked to a person, thing or idea and helps to make the story dramatic and bind it together.
Q: Who first used leitmotifs a lot in their operas?
A: Carl Maria von Weber was the first composer to use leitmotifs extensively in his operas.
Q: How did Wagner refer to such themes?
A: Wagner preferred to call these themes “Grundthema” (basic idea) or simply “Motiv”.
Q: What are some examples of leitmotifs from Wagner's Ring Cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen?
A: Three examples of leitmotifs from this work are the leitmotif for the chief god Wotan (a person), the leitmotif for the Tarnhelm, the invisibility helmet (a thing), and the leitmotif for the Renunciation of Love (an idea).
Q: Are there other composers who have used similar techniques?
A: Yes, many other composers have used similar techniques with their works including Richard Strauss in his operas, Elgar in his oratorios The Kingdom and The Apostles or Alban Berg in his opera Lulu. Leitmotifs or music themes are also used to dramatise movies. For example, the famous Jaws theme uses a leitmotif for the shark.
Q: Is this technique new?
A: No, this technique was not completely new when it was popularized by Wagner during 19th century; Beethoven had already used it like a motif during his Fifth Symphony.
