Leitmotif

A recognizable melody that a part or all of a composition is based upon. An overall "feel" of the film/production. Gives the audience a sense of how they should feel watching the film. "Guides" emotion. A musical theme is an overall theme that’s fits a scene or place. These themes continue throughout a film or opera when a place or particular mood is revisited.
 * What is a musical theme?**

A recurring musical theme that is associated with a particular person, place, or idea. A leitmotif is a symbol or theme within the overall theme. A leitmotif is more descriptive, and is set to a particular character typically. So when a main character enters the screen or stage, that character is given a theme that signifies him/her. Usually the most important characters are given a theme, but a leitmotif is also used to pronounce what is happening in stage or screen.
 * What is a leitmotif?**

A theme is more encompassing than a leitmotif, in other words, a leitmotif is a character's theme or a place's theme as opposed to the theme of the whole movie or composition. Leitmotifs are more specific in that they relate directly to a person or place whereas a theme encompasses the entire production. The main difference is that a leitmotif is used in conjunction with a theme. In other words a leitmotif changes or adapts depending on what is happening. So a main character may have a theme dedicated to them, but if they were to die, the leitmotif would still be there, but morphed into something more sorrowful. So it’s still that characters theme, but changes to affect the audience’s mood. In contrast to an "idea" or "Motif", a theme is usually a complete phrase or period.
 * What difference is there, if any, between a theme and a leitmotif?**

A formal technique that repeats the same material but in an altered form. This is music that has been repeated, but in a different form. A leitmotif uses musical variations to show the adaptation of characters and places. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.
 * What is meant by a musical variation?**

In the film Gladiator, whenever something positive happens to the main character (kills opponent, wins major battle), a certain theme is played. It is very dramatic, but it’s also uplifting.
 * Name/identify some uses of leitmotif you've heard in movies, TV, or video games**

In the television show Lost, every main character has his/her own leitmotif. The score is only played when something of major significance happens to one of those characters.


 * Name/identify some uses of leitmotif you've heard in movies, TV, or video games**

media type="youtube" key="-bzWSJG93P8" height="315" width="420"

media type="file" key="Jaws Theme.flv" width="360" height="270"
 * Jaws (Leitmotif): **

**Jurassic Park(Theme):** media type="file" key="Jurassic Park Theme.flv" width="360" height="270"