A motif (also called leit-motif) in music is a brief memorable phrase, which serves as a basic “core” essence of a piece of music, and repeated throughout the piece.
In soundtrack for films, TV, games etc. this motif is often used in a way that guides to audience to immediately recognise the presence of a specific character or place.
The motif itself is most often just a few notes, simply enough to make it immediately recognisable. For example, one of the most famous motifs in history is the first notes from Beethoven’s fifth symphony.
Motifs in Film Soundtracks
In soundtracks, there are countless of famous examples of the use of motifs, as it has become a crucial part of the score to portrait important characters and places. The motif itself is basically the core essence of the overall theme.
For example, instead of playing the full melodic phrase of the famous Indiana Jones theme, the motif is only the first few notes, and you will still immediately recognise it. And the motif is used as the glue (repeats) throughout the entire composition.
Here are some of the most famous motifs in film music history. It’s important to note that soundtracks for any media will have many different themes and motifs.
So when I write “Main Theme”, it is simply the most iconic one that people tend to think of when hearing the name of the movie.
Most often the motif could be described as “melodic”. Sometimes it is more like a rhythmic riff. But it can even be a chord progression, like in the theme “Time” from Inception, even though it is not that common.
10 Famous Film Music Motifs
- Jaws – Main Theme
- LOTR – Main Theme
- Darth Vader (The Imperial March)
- Indiana Jones – Main Theme
- Star Wars – The Force Theme
- ET – Flying Theme
- Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme
- Inception – Time
- Gladiator – Main Theme
- Jurassic Park – Main Theme