Motives
Definition
Motives are short musical ideas or phrases that are repeated and developed throughout a piece of music. They often serve as building blocks for melodies and can create unity and coherence in a composition.
Analogy
Think of motives as puzzle pieces that fit together to form a larger picture. Each motive is like a unique shape, but when they are combined, they create a complete image.
Related terms
Theme: A theme is a longer musical idea that serves as the main melody or subject of a composition.
Variation: Variation refers to the process of altering or modifying a musical idea, such as a motive or theme, while still maintaining its recognizable characteristics.
Development: Development involves taking existing musical material, like motives, and transforming them through techniques such as fragmentation, inversion, or modulation.
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