Motive: a small musical identity

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Motives and phrases

A motive is a short recognisable idea shaped by rhythm, intervals or both. A few notes can establish an identity; its definition depends on what listeners recognise when it returns, not on one compulsory note count.

Identify your own motive’s distinctive feature, then vary one property at a time. A short-short-long rhythm may survive a pitch change, while a contour may survive a new rhythm. This helps develop one idea rather than continually replacing it. Repetition still needs context and contrast.

Example

Create D–F–E with a short-short-long rhythm, then try the rhythm at other pitch levels.

Try it

Can a motive remain recognisable if its pitches change but its rhythm stays?

Related topics

References

Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom

Subject-expert review pending.