what is a "leitmotif" and by whom has it been introduced into music language?

Question

after debating about Paraphrase in music and whether "paraphrasing" could mind something different I came to the question, that someone has been used the first time the German term of "leitmotif" which is used in French as well as in English language. Some one must have brought it up and someone must have adapted it.

Answer 1

The literal German meaning is something like leading or central (the leit) part, with the motiv or motif part referring to some element, such as a short melodic phrase that is consistently used as a reference to a character or other element in a musical work.

The term was first coined in 1878 by Wagner's friend, man of letters Hans von Wolzogen, in an essay about the materials in the opera Göttedamerung. While Wagner was the first to consistently use this device (which he called Grundthema), other were known to use it in earlier 18th-century works.

Answer 2

Hi 2D,

The Leitmotif, especially as used by Wagner, could best be described as "theme music." In a modern example, in the Star Wars series, Darth Vader, Luke, Han, Princess Leia, etc. all have their own individual music theme. Vader = |Quarter notes C C C Dotted Eighth Ab Sixteenth note Eb|

Quarter C Dotted Eighth Ab Sixteenth note Eb Half note C

However the leitmotif could represent more than a person; it could represent a particular object, idea, or group of people.

Dr. Gary D., retired professor of Music, The University of Miami