theme

Examples

• All

• And I remember the movie Boss Baby when I hear the theme music for that.

• Indeed, this should be a recurring theme in the music classroom and rehearsal room.

  Academic text (1996)

• This would be good theme music for the play.

  Melinda and Melinda (2004)

• And I'm working on a theme song.

  Mystery Men (1999)

• "If you pray," Father Martin strikes up his theme for the visit, "something will come."

  Fiction book (1997)

• Identify the theme and discuss the musical ways in which Copland varies the theme.

  Academic text (2015)

• Far away, someone whistled the theme from The High and the Mighty.

  Fiction book (1994)

• Though not composed by Duke Ellington, this became the new theme song for his band, replacing "Toodle-O."

  Academic text (1999)

• How do we experience repetitions and contrasts (theme and variations in music)?

  Academic text (2015)

• The theme of the movie is expressed beautifully through its iconic theme music.

Synonyms

M

melody

vstheme

146 1.8

A series of musical notes that form the main tune of a song

is more about a recurring dominant tune that drives the whole composition

I

idea

vstheme

• Specialized

88 7.5

A short melody that returns and changes in a musical piece

is specifically a recurring dominant tune rather than any single melodic subject

M

motive

vstheme

• Specialized

6 7.4

A short musical idea that repeats or changes through a piece

is broader and often functions as a main recurring idea rather than a brief fragment

M

motif

vstheme

• Specialized

3 6.7

A short musical idea that repeats and is changed in a piece

is larger in scope and often dominates more than a short repeated idea

L

leitmotif

vstheme

• Specialized

1 9.1

A short musical idea that returns to show a person, place, or feeling

is more general and not necessarily tied to a character or situation

M

musical theme

vstheme

• Specialized

1 3.4

The main tune that represents a person or idea in a piece of music

is focused on being a recurring dominant tune rather than a repeated subject

M

melodic theme

vstheme

• Specialized

1 5.8

A main tune that returns and shapes a musical piece

is more about a recurring dominant tune than technical development

T

thema

vstheme

9.1

The main idea of a talk, text, or piece of music

is the specifically recurring dominant musical idea rather than a general subject

Compounds

T

theme park

49 1.6

A park with rides and shows based on one story or idea

T

theme song

48 2.5

A short piece of music that plays at the start of a TV show or for a performer

M

musical theme

• Specialized

1 3.4

The main tune that represents a person or idea in a piece of music

P

party theme

1 1.8

A main idea that decides the decorations, activities, and style of a party

B

biblical theme

1 6.1

A theme in stories or art that comes from the Bible

M

melodic theme

• Specialized

1 5.8

A main tune that returns and shapes a musical piece

A

Acherontic theme

• Literature

9.9

A dark, sad mood that suggests the world of the dead

G

girlie theme

• Informal

8.1

A decorative style with pink, lace and flowers

P

Persian love theme

9.3

A romantic style that uses Persian music, poetry and colours

P

philosophical theme

8.0

A big idea about life, meaning and right and wrong shown in books and films

T

theme of mortality

8.4

An idea about death and what it means for people

T

theme of Jewiness

9.4

A topic about the life, culture, and identity of Jewish people

T

theme of morality

6.4

An idea in stories about right and wrong and what people choose

T

Toontown theme

7.5

A decoration style with bright colors, fun shapes, and cartoon characters

T

transphilic theme

8.2

A topic that supports and welcomes transgender people

How Prominent

theme

• Specialized

173 3.4

musical theme

• Specialized

1 3.4

motif

• Specialized

3 6.7

Surface Forms

Etymology