Theme, figure and motif

Listen to these pieces - do you know what they are from and what they represent?







Composers use melodic techniques to reel us in and emphasise certain points in films or help us to recognise characters.

Theme - a melody that is associated with a character or idea i.e The Imperial March, ET flying theme, Hedwig's theme....when we hear them in the film, we know that the focus is on that character.

Thinking of the techniques we have already covered, what techniques in each of those themes make them so effective?

We have already looked at Figure and Motif:

Figure - a short phrase, usually in the background, that is repeated.

Motif - a small section of a phrase that acts as a melody - often forming part of a longer theme.

What is happening melodically in the Jaws score?



The opening two notes in the Jaws score act as all three. It is a theme because we hear them and know Jaws is lurking about, a figure as it's just two notes that are repeated and it also develops into a fuller melody (motif).

TASK: compose a theme (melody line, no beats or loops please!) for one of the following fictional characters:

• a heroic pirate
• an alien
• an evil child
• a bird or a plane

Think about the techniques we have looked at (see previous posts if you need reminding) and choose appropriate instruments. The theme should be 8-16 bars long.