leitmotif

A leitmotif (German for leading motif) is a short, recognisable musical idea that recurs throughout a dramatic work, representing a specific character, object, emotion, or concept. When that character appears or is mentioned, their leitmotif sounds in the orchestra, creating a musical web of associations. Wagner developed the leitmotif technique to its fullest extent in his Ring cycle, where dozens of motifs interweave, transform, and combine to create a continuous musical commentary on the drama. Film composers inherited the technique directly: John Williams's Star Wars scores use leitmotifs extensively — Darth Vader's Imperial March, Luke's theme, and the Force theme are all leitmotifs in the Wagnerian tradition.