Leitmotif Composition Lesson

What is a Leitmotif?
For example: explore, look and listen to the following contemporary style leitmotifs:

• The theme for the shark in the movie “Jaws” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCI-gNK_y4
  
• The theme for Darth Vader in the movie “Star Wars” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8
  
• The theme for Harry Potter in the Harry Potter movies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Htaj3o3JD8I 
  

For example: Listen to the leitmotif associated with Jaws

1. Class Discussion
   Compare an image (projected), the nature of the character (protagonist/antagonist) and the theme music and identify:
   
   • What mood must be created? Happy/sad/scary/threatening/haunting, etc.
     
   • What are the features of the character? Strong/mystical/magical/threatening, etc.
     
   • What are the qualities in the music that represents the character?
     Pitch/register/chords/rhythms/tempo, etc.
     
   1. What do you notice about the leitmotif associated with Jaws?
      
   2. How does it inform the viewer?
      
   3. How long is the leitmotif?
      
   4. How many notes are used to create this effect?
      
   5. Is it a successful leitmotif? Why?
      
   6. What is the timbre (tone color) of the leitmotif? What instrument is used to make this
      leitmotif? How is the selection of tone color (instrument) important? 
      

Compose
Short 2-8 note motifs similar to the "Jaws" leitmotif.  
- Choose a character from a book, text, play or movie.
- Identify his/her/its characteristics
- Compose a rhythm only or melodic leitmotif.

Perform
_ Project the image of your character
- Perform the matching leitmotif