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Musical Motifs
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The Fate Motif from Verdi's 'La Forza del Destino'
The three Es followed by a rest and an ominous B flat mark the motif that signifies the unstoppable force of fate throughout Verdi's opera.
The Dies Irae Theme
A Latin chant from the Requiem Mass that symbolizes death and has been used in various compositions to evoke a sense of doom or to signify the concept of mortality.
The 'Harlem Rag' by Tom Turpin
Considered one of the earliest pieces of written ragtime music, this theme represents the characteristic syncopated rhythms of the ragtime genre.
The 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' from Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker'
A celesta motif that represents the character of the Sugar Plum Fairy with a light and magical quality, typical for the fantasy setting of the ballet.
Pachelbel's Canon Progression
The repeating bass line and sequence of chords form a progression used by Pachelbel and many others after him, often symbolizing simplicity and elegance in music.
The 'Largo al factotum' Theme from Rossini's 'Barber of Seville'
This energetic theme portrays the self-assured and busy character of Figaro, the barber, and is one of the most famous baritone arias.
The Tristan Chord
This chord is a symbol of longing and desire, first appearing in Richard Wagner's opera 'Tristan and Isolde'. The ambiguous resolution and dissonance of the chord revolutionized harmonic language in music.
The 'Ode to Joy' Theme
A melody from Beethoven's 9th Symphony symbolizing universal brotherhood and joy. It has become an anthem for peace and unity.
The 'Salome' Motif by Richard Strauss
The chromatic and exotic theme signifies the title character's infatuation and obsession in Strauss's opera.
The 'Mars' Motif from Holst's 'The Planets'
This ostinato represents the god of war with a strong, martial rhythm and has been associated with the relentless nature of war.
The 'Ride of the Valkyries' Motif
This motif symbolizes the Valkyries from Norse mythology who would choose who lives or dies in battle. Wagner used this to represent the wild ride of the warrior maidens.
The 'Four Seasons' Motifs by Vivaldi
Each concerto has unique motifs representing different aspects of the seasons, such as bird calls in 'Spring' or chattering teeth in 'Winter', illustrating the programmatic nature of the music.
The 'Boléro' Theme by Ravel
A single theme repeats and gradually builds with different orchestrations, representing the concept of obsessive repetition and gradual transformation.
Mozart's 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' Rondo Theme
This joyful and spirited theme embodies the classical style's balance and clarity, and is known for its playful character.
Beethoven's 5th Symphony Motif
The motif 'short-short-short-long' is known for its rhythmic drive and has become a symbol of fate knocking at the door. It is one of the most recognizable motifs in western music history and signifies the struggle and eventual victory.
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