Definitions for leitmotiv
leit·mo·tiv

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. leitmotiv, leitmotifnoun

   a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas)

GCIDERate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Leitmotivnoun

   a recurring theme in the activities of a person or group.

2. Leitmotivnoun

   (Mus.) a guiding theme; in Wagnerian opera, a marked melodic phrase or short musical passage which always accompanies the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of musical label. Also called Leading motive.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. leitmotiv

   A leitmotif or leitmotiv () is a "short, recurring musical phrase" associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical concepts of idée fixe or motto-theme. The spelling leitmotif is an anglicization of the German Leitmotiv (IPA: [ˈlaɪtmoˌtiːf]), literally meaning "leading motif", or "guiding motif". A musical motif has been defined as a "short musical idea ... melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic, or all three", a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition: "the smallest structural unit possessing thematic identity."In particular, such a motif should be "clearly identified so as to retain its identity if modified on subsequent appearances" whether such modification be in terms of rhythm, harmony, orchestration or accompaniment. It may also be "combined with other leitmotifs to suggest a new dramatic condition" or development. The technique is notably associated with the operas of Richard Wagner, and most especially his Der Ring des Nibelungen, although he was not its originator and did not employ the word in connection with his work. Although usually a short melody, it can also be a chord progression or even a simple rhythm. Leitmotifs can help to bind a work together into a coherent whole, and also enable the composer to relate a story without the use of words, or to add an extra level to an already present story. By association, the word has also been used to mean any sort of recurring theme (whether or not subject to developmental transformation) in literature, or (metaphorically) the life of a fictional character or a real person. It is sometimes also used in discussion of other musical genres, such as instrumental pieces, cinema, and video game music, sometimes interchangeably with the more general category of theme.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. leitmotiv

   A leitmotiv is a recurrent theme throughout a musical composition or literary work, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation. It's used to create continuity, unity or dramatic effect. The term is derived from German, meaning "leading motive."

Matched Categories

1. • Tune

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. [["1801","1"],["1882","4"],["1883","2"],["1886","1"],["1892","2"],["1893","1"],["1894","4"],["1896","1"],["1897","11"],["1898","6"],["1900","20"],["1901","47"],["1902","7"],["1903","21"],["1904","7"],["1905","25"],["1906","10"],["1907","7"],["1908","41"],["1909","14"],["1910","34"],["1911","25"],["1912","40"],["1913","98"],["1914","15"],["1915","22"],["1916","31"],["1917","57"],["1918","30"],["1919","28"],["1920","11"],["1921","20"],["1922","43"],["1923","52"],["1924","55"],["1925","44"],["1926","33"],["1927","77"],["1928","52"],["1929","53"],["1930","66"],["1931","63"],["1932","30"],["1933","16"],["1934","76"],["1935","88"],["1936","71"],["1937","80"],["1938","109"],["1939","141"],["1940","120"],["1941","123"],["1942","95"],["1943","71"],["1944","91"],["1945","83"],["1946","174"],["1947","123"],["1948","140"],["1949","223"],["1950","167"],["1951","163"],["1952","202"],["1953","178"],["1954","174"],["1955","252"],["1956","199"],["1957","242"],["1958","255"],["1959","214"],["1960","327"],["1961","295"],["1962","416"],["1963","472"],["1964","443"],["1965","388"],["1966","526"],["1967","429"],["1968","502"],["1969","604"],["1970","521"],["1971","594"],["1972","502"],["1973","585"],["1974","568"],["1975","496"],["1976","605"],["1977","584"],["1978","547"],["1979","485"],["1980","494"],["1981","533"],["1982","516"],["1983","585"],["1984","802"],["1985","645"],["1986","621"],["1987","554"],["1988","705"],["1989","752"],["1990","849"],["1991","1018"],["1992","858"],["1993","865"],["1994","873"],["1995","851"],["1996","992"],["1997","1132"],["1998","1099"],["1999","1157"],["2000","1141"],["2001","1085"],["2002","1353"],["2003","1244"],["2004","1230"],["2005","1195"],["2006","1175"],["2007","1478"],["2008","1055"]]

How to pronounce leitmotiv?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say leitmotiv in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of leitmotiv in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of leitmotiv in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=leitmotiv
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=leitmotiv
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitmotiv
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=leitmotiv