Leitmotif

A leitmotif ( /ˌlaɪtmoʊˈtiːf/)is a musical term referring to a 'short, constantly 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 term itself is an anglicization of the German Leitmotiv, literally meaning "leading motif", or perhaps more accurately, "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."