The Leitmotif

A leitmotif is a technique used in music, and when used repeatedly can represent a theme, a part of the action or story or a character. Composers can use leitmotifs to help build a sense of continuity in a film and can also be manipulated to match the mood or action of a particular scene. A main theme could be changed throughout a film by:

• Adding new notes or material.
• Developing part of the original theme
• Changing the pitch or rhythm
• Changing the actual sound of the theme by using different instruments and/or accompaniment.

A leitmotif is usually a short melody, but could also be a chord progression or a rhythm.


In the Oxford dictionary, it states that a leitmotif is ‘a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation’.

This idea of using music in this way has been used by many film composers, but known as being perfected by composer Richard Wagner in the 1800’s in his cycle of four opera’s, Der Ring des Nibelungen, where he uses dozens of leitmotifs that are related to specific characters and situations throughout.

A couple of examples of the use of leitmotifs in modern cinema could be:

John Williams – Star Wars (see below), Jaws, Indiana Jones

Danny Elfman – Batman

John Barry – James Bond

Don Davis – The Matrix (Neo) 


In the film Star Wars, whenever anyone mentions The Force or anything to do with being a Jedi, John Williams had (more often than not) decided to introduce a certain piece of music that would be associated with it. And it may also be that no character had actually mentioned the word, but the idea of it may be present within the storyline.
The particular piece of music that would be associated with the idea of The Force will have been played at many times during the six Star Wars movies and even though it may have slightly changed in how it sounds, the basic structure, melody or chord progression will be the same.
We as viewers/listeners may notice this if paying attention but even if not, the association made may be unconscious but still very effective.

In the case of the above clip, the leitmotif is referring to the idea of The Force. 


Staying with the film Star Wars, another example of a leitmotif and it’s use would be the music that is used when Darth Vader or The Empire is present at that particular time in the story. Here the music (The Imperial March) is associated with both a particular character and the wider context in which he is part of.
Due to the popularity of the Star Wars franchise and it’s music, the theme can be instantly recognised as being that of the bad guy and has been used on many occasions, whether in the actual films or for other purposes.     


Here is the original score.

This video shows the clip where Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader fight, ending in Luke finding out who his father actually is. At this point of the video (1.48) The Imperial March starts to play.   

Now, two more videos just to show the wider use of this theme.