Academic English for International Exams

The chords struck in Beethoven's composition for string quartets and the ominous music that fills moviegoers with dread when the villain Darth Vader enters the scene in the Star Wars movies are examples of leitmotifs. First coined as a musical term in 1871, it is defined as the leading theme in a piece of music. Taken from the German words leiten, which means "to lead", and motiv, which means "motive", the word is literally translated as "leading motive". A more modern definition is a dominant recurring theme associated with a person, subject, or idea in a work of art. Leitmotifs are seen across many genres, including music, visual arts, and literature.

A leitmotif is usually a short melody that is repeated throughout the body of a piece of music, though some composers choose to use recurrent chords or percussion rhythms. The use of leitmotifs helps to show congruency within the piece of music and tie the different movements together as a unified whole. The leitmotif usually plays on the emotions of the audience, even if subconsciously, and is a way to convey meaning without words or to take the composition to a different level. Classical music most often comes to mind when leitmotifs are mentioned. They are seen in operas and other dramatic compositions.

A) ■ A leitmotif cannot be seen in a single song. B) ■ For instance, the rhythmic background of hip-hop music is not considered a leitmotif because it does not express emotion or work to change the mood of the song. C) ■ A true leitmotif is more than just a style of music; rather, it occurs several times throughout a composition, expressing certain emotions and binding the entire work together. D) ■

The idea of leitmotif can be seen in the music of modern movies, television shows, and even video games. The example of the music played when Darth Vader comes on screen in Star Wars is a more classical example of a leitmotif. Likewise, the eerie sound that is played in the Friday the 13" horror movie series when the murderer is about to take another victim is a leitmotif as well, though not true music. Both signify the presence of a lead character and evoke intense emotion. Television shows usually use leitmotifs from episode to episode. For example, the television series Lost has several leitmotifs that are played at different points in the show. If the actors are climbing or hiking through the thick jungle of the island, the audience hears music that allows it to experience the hard work and time it takes to fight through the dense vegetation. The popular 1990s comedy series Seinfeld uses a rhythmic melody for scene changes during each episode. Video game fans can easily recognize the theme music from the Halo series played at the beginning of each game.

Leitmotif is not confined only to music, but can be seen in visual works of art. For example, Michelangelo is known for incorporating images of the nude male body in many of his most famous works. His sculpture of David and his painting of the Sistine Chapel both exemplify this image. A more modern artist, Thomas Kinkade, is known as the painter of light. Each of his works includes pastel colors and scenes that seem to reflect and even produce light within the painting. He also paints with themes of simplicity in most of his works. Much of his art features cottage-style homes and simplistic gardens and streams that evoke emotions of comfort and nostalgia.

Literature is another art form in which leitmotifs are used. When employed in literature, a leitmotif is seen as a recurring event, object, or character referred to throughout the book. Author James Joyce's book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man includes themes of the Virgin Mary and Daedalus from Greek mythology to promote unity as the main character matures. John Grisham, a modern-day writer of fiction, includes themes of ethical dilemma and justice throughout his suspenseful thrillers that deal with the US legal system.

Classical music introduced the idea of leitmotifs to the world, but artists took this concept and applied it to other genres as well. The idea of a recurring theme appealed to artists and audiences alike because it conveyed intense emotion and drew the audience into the drama and beauty of the artistic piece. Leitmotifs have influenced how people participate in art, whether through the emotion of the music or through identifying themes within visual art and literature.

The chords struck in Beethoven's composition for string quartets and the ominous music that fills moviegoers with dread when the villain Darth Vader enters the scene in the Star Wars movies are examples of leitmotifs. First coined as a musical term in 1871, it is defined as the leading theme in a piece of music. Taken from the German words leiten, which means "to lead", and motiv, which means "motive", the word is literally translated as "leading motive". A more modern definition is a dominant recurring theme associated with a person, subject, or idea in a work of art. Leitmotifs are seen across many genres, including music, visual arts, and literature.

A leitmotif is usually a short melody that is repeated throughout the body of a piece of music, though some composers choose to use recurrent chords or percussion rhythms. The use of leitmotifs helps to show congruency within the piece of music and tie the different movements together as a unified whole. The leitmotif usually plays on the emotions of the audience, even if subconsciously, and is a way to convey meaning without words or to take the composition to a different level. Classical music most often comes to mind when leitmotifs are mentioned. They are seen in operas and other dramatic compositions.

A) ■ A leitmotif cannot be seen in a single song. B) ■ For instance, the rhythmic background of hip-hop music is not considered a leitmotif because it does not express emotion or work to change the mood of the song. C) ■ A true leitmotif is more than just a style of music; rather, it occurs several times throughout a composition, expressing certain emotions and binding the entire work together. D) ■

The idea of leitmotif can be seen in the music of modern movies, television shows, and even video games. The example of the music played when Darth Vader comes on screen in Star Wars is a more classical example of a leitmotif. Likewise, the eerie sound that is played in the Friday the 13" horror movie series when the murderer is about to take another victim is a leitmotif as well, though not true music. Both signify the presence of a lead character and evoke intense emotion. Television shows usually use leitmotifs from episode to episode. For example, the television series Lost has several leitmotifs that are played at different points in the show. If the actors are climbing or hiking through the thick jungle of the island, the audience hears music that allows it to experience the hard work and time it takes to fight through the dense vegetation. The popular 1990s comedy series Seinfeld uses a rhythmic melody for scene changes during each episode. Video game fans can easily recognize the theme music from the Halo series played at the beginning of each game.

Leitmotif is not confined only to music, but can be seen in visual works of art. For example, Michelangelo is known for incorporating images of the nude male body in many of his most famous works. His sculpture of David and his painting of the Sistine Chapel both exemplify this image. A more modern artist, Thomas Kinkade, is known as the painter of light. Each of his works includes pastel colors and scenes that seem to reflect and even produce light within the painting. He also paints with themes of simplicity in most of his works. Much of his art features cottage-style homes and simplistic gardens and streams that evoke emotions of comfort and nostalgia.

Literature is another art form in which leitmotifs are used. When employed in literature, a leitmotif is seen as a recurring event, object, or character referred to throughout the book. Author James Joyce's book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man includes themes of the Virgin Mary and Daedalus from Greek mythology to promote unity as the main character matures. John Grisham, a modern-day writer of fiction, includes themes of ethical dilemma and justice throughout his suspenseful thrillers that deal with the US legal system.

Classical music introduced the idea of leitmotifs to the world, but artists took this concept and applied it to other genres as well. The idea of a recurring theme appealed to artists and audiences alike because it conveyed intense emotion and drew the audience into the drama and beauty of the artistic piece. Leitmotifs have influenced how people participate in art, whether through the emotion of the music or through identifying themes within visual art and literature.

The chords struck in Beethoven's composition for string quartets and the ominous music that fills moviegoers with dread when the villain Darth Vader enters the scene in the Star Wars movies are examples of leitmotifs. First coined as a musical term in 1871, it is defined as the leading theme in a piece of music. Taken from the German words leiten, which means "to lead", and motiv, which means "motive", the word is literally translated as "leading motive". A more modern definition is a dominant recurring theme associated with a person, subject, or idea in a work of art. Leitmotifs are seen across many genres, including music, visual arts, and literature.

A leitmotif is usually a short melody that is repeated throughout the body of a piece of music, though some composers choose to use recurrent chords or percussion rhythms. The use of leitmotifs helps to show congruency within the piece of music and tie the different movements together as a unified whole. The leitmotif usually plays on the emotions of the audience, even if subconsciously, and is a way to convey meaning without words or to take the composition to a different level. Classical music most often comes to mind when leitmotifs are mentioned. They are seen in operas and other dramatic compositions.

A) ■ A leitmotif cannot be seen in a single song. B) ■ For instance, the rhythmic background of hip-hop music is not considered a leitmotif because it does not express emotion or work to change the mood of the song. C) ■ A true leitmotif is more than just a style of music; rather, it occurs several times throughout a composition, expressing certain emotions and binding the entire work together. D) ■

The idea of leitmotif can be seen in the music of modern movies, television shows, and even video games. The example of the music played when Darth Vader comes on screen in Star Wars is a more classical example of a leitmotif. Likewise, the eerie sound that is played in the Friday the 13" horror movie series when the murderer is about to take another victim is a leitmotif as well, though not true music. Both signify the presence of a lead character and evoke intense emotion. Television shows usually use leitmotifs from episode to episode. For example, the television series Lost has several leitmotifs that are played at different points in the show. If the actors are climbing or hiking through the thick jungle of the island, the audience hears music that allows it to experience the hard work and time it takes to fight through the dense vegetation. The popular 1990s comedy series Seinfeld uses a rhythmic melody for scene changes during each episode. Video game fans can easily recognize the theme music from the Halo series played at the beginning of each game.

Leitmotif is not confined only to music, but can be seen in visual works of art. For example, Michelangelo is known for incorporating images of the nude male body in many of his most famous works. His sculpture of David and his painting of the Sistine Chapel both exemplify this image. A more modern artist, Thomas Kinkade, is known as the painter of light. Each of his works includes pastel colors and scenes that seem to reflect and even produce light within the painting. He also paints with themes of simplicity in most of his works. Much of his art features cottage-style homes and simplistic gardens and streams that evoke emotions of comfort and nostalgia.

Literature is another art form in which leitmotifs are used. When employed in literature, a leitmotif is seen as a recurring event, object, or character referred to throughout the book. Author James Joyce's book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man includes themes of the Virgin Mary and Daedalus from Greek mythology to promote unity as the main character matures. John Grisham, a modern-day writer of fiction, includes themes of ethical dilemma and justice throughout his suspenseful thrillers that deal with the US legal system.

Classical music introduced the idea of leitmotifs to the world, but artists took this concept and applied it to other genres as well. The idea of a recurring theme appealed to artists and audiences alike because it conveyed intense emotion and drew the audience into the drama and beauty of the artistic piece. Leitmotifs have influenced how people participate in art, whether through the emotion of the music or through identifying themes within visual art and literature.

The chords struck in Beethoven's composition for string quartets and the ominous music that fills moviegoers with dread when the villain Darth Vader enters the scene in the Star Wars movies are examples of leitmotifs. First coined as a musical term in 1871, it is defined as the leading theme in a piece of music. Taken from the German words leiten, which means "to lead", and motiv, which means "motive", the word is literally translated as "leading motive". A more modern definition is a dominant recurring theme associated with a person, subject, or idea in a work of art. Leitmotifs are seen across many genres, including music, visual arts, and literature.

A leitmotif is usually a short melody that is repeated throughout the body of a piece of music, though some composers choose to use recurrent chords or percussion rhythms. The use of leitmotifs helps to show congruency within the piece of music and tie the different movements together as a unified whole. The leitmotif usually plays on the emotions of the audience, even if subconsciously, and is a way to convey meaning without words or to take the composition to a different level. Classical music most often comes to mind when leitmotifs are mentioned. They are seen in operas and other dramatic compositions.

A) ■ A leitmotif cannot be seen in a single song. B) ■ For instance, the rhythmic background of hip-hop music is not considered a leitmotif because it does not express emotion or work to change the mood of the song. C) ■ A true leitmotif is more than just a style of music; rather, it occurs several times throughout a composition, expressing certain emotions and binding the entire work together. D) ■

The idea of leitmotif can be seen in the music of modern movies, television shows, and even video games. The example of the music played when Darth Vader comes on screen in Star Wars is a more classical example of a leitmotif. Likewise, the eerie sound that is played in the Friday the 13" horror movie series when the murderer is about to take another victim is a leitmotif as well, though not true music. Both signify the presence of a lead character and evoke intense emotion. Television shows usually use leitmotifs from episode to episode. For example, the television series Lost has several leitmotifs that are played at different points in the show. If the actors are climbing or hiking through the thick jungle of the island, the audience hears music that allows it to experience the hard work and time it takes to fight through the dense vegetation. The popular 1990s comedy series Seinfeld uses a rhythmic melody for scene changes during each episode. Video game fans can easily recognize the theme music from the Halo series played at the beginning of each game.

Leitmotif is not confined only to music, but can be seen in visual works of art. For example, Michelangelo is known for incorporating images of the nude male body in many of his most famous works. His sculpture of David and his painting of the Sistine Chapel both exemplify this image. A more modern artist, Thomas Kinkade, is known as the painter of light. Each of his works includes pastel colors and scenes that seem to reflect and even produce light within the painting. He also paints with themes of simplicity in most of his works. Much of his art features cottage-style homes and simplistic gardens and streams that evoke emotions of comfort and nostalgia.

Literature is another art form in which leitmotifs are used. When employed in literature, a leitmotif is seen as a recurring event, object, or character referred to throughout the book. Author James Joyce's book A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man includes themes of the Virgin Mary and Daedalus from Greek mythology to promote unity as the main character matures. John Grisham, a modern-day writer of fiction, includes themes of ethical dilemma and justice throughout his suspenseful thrillers that deal with the US legal system.

Classical music introduced the idea of leitmotifs to the world, but artists took this concept and applied it to other genres as well. The idea of a recurring theme appealed to artists and audiences alike because it conveyed intense emotion and drew the audience into the drama and beauty of the artistic piece. Leitmotifs have influenced how people participate in art, whether through the emotion of the music or through identifying themes within visual art and literature.