What's covered
Key facts
A leitmotif is a recurring theme associated with a character, place or idea.
Consonant harmony, slow tempos and high strings suggest calm.
A crescendo can build to a dramatic climax.
Hearing a character's leitmotif tells the audience that character is present or referenced.
Film music is written to a commission, responding to a director's brief or stimulus.
Sudden loud dynamics create shock; quiet dynamics create suspense.
A leitmotif carries meaning, unlike a plain motif which is just a short idea.
Composers combine tempo, dynamics, instrumentation and harmony for effect.
Low brass and heavy percussion suggest threat or power.
Leitmotifs were developed by Wagner in opera and are widely used in film.
Sample questions
A taste of the 30 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What is a leitmotif?
- •A randomly improvised solo tune
- ✓A recurring theme tied to a character or idea
- •A single one-off opening chord
- •A specialised type of microphone
Film music is usually written to do what?
- •Be improvised live on set
- •Replace the dialogue entirely
- ✓Respond to a director's commission
- •Stand alone as a concert work
Low brass and heavy percussion in film usually suggest?
- •A quiet morning
- •A romantic scene
- •Joy and comedy
- ✓Threat or power
Which composer developed the leitmotif in opera?
- •Bach
- •Mozart
- •Reich
- ✓Wagner
Which combination best builds tension in film music?
- •A major key and soft dynamics
- •Consonance and a slow tempo
- ✓Dissonance and a fast tempo
- •Silence and a single note
Synthesised sounds in a film score often create?
- •A Baroque dance feel
- •A church hymn sound
- •A folk ballad mood
- ✓A futuristic atmosphere
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