The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive, under Leading.
That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.
a very small melodic unit.
A short musical phrase that is used and developed to unify a piece. Although some musicians use the words "motive" and " theme" interchangeably, most consider motives to be shorter and more fragmentary. From that point of view themes are made up of motives, so that the famous theme of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, for example, combines two versions of the "short-short-short-long" motive.
The smallest coherent unit of a larger musical idea.
the theme or dominant feature of a design.
a short, distinctive musical pattern used by composers as a building block
a theme that is elaborated on in a piece of music
a short, memorable pattern, which is repeated and varied
A short melodic or rhythmic pattern.
Short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-harmonic-rhythmic unit. Example: Beethoven, Symphony No.5 in C minor, first movement Real Audio: 28k | 56k | About this album In this excerpt, a familiar four-note idea, or motive, is sounded twice before it is subjected to further development.
A recurring, recognizable rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic idea. A motive may also be a part of a larger phrase, theme, or melody.
a short repeated pattern which can be melodic, rhythmic, or both.
Short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-harmonic-rhythmic unit. In this excerpt, a familiar four-note idea, or motive, is sounded twice before it is subjected to further development. Example: Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, first movement Real Audio: 28K | 56K | About this album