A leitmotif or leitmotiv /ˌlaɪtmoʊˈtiːf/ is a "short, constantly recurring musical phrase" associated with a particular person, place, or idea. It is closely related to the musical concepts of idée fixe or motto-theme. The spelling leitmotif is an anglicization of the German Leitmotiv, literally meaning "leading motif", or perhaps more accurately, "guiding motif". A musical motif has been defined as a "short musical idea ... melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic, or all three", a salient recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition: "the smallest structural unit possessing thematic identity."
In particular, such a motif should be "clearly identified so as to retain its identity if modified on subsequent appearances" whether such modification be in terms of rhythm, harmony, orchestration or accompaniment. It may also be "combined with other leitmotifs to suggest a new dramatic condition" or development. The technique is notably associated with the operas of Richard Wagner, and most especially his Der Ring des Nibelungen, although he was not its originator and did not employ the word in connection with his work.
Leitmotif is Dredg's first full-length concept album, originally released on May 30, 1998. The album was re-released by Interscope Records, with different artwork, on September 11, 2001. A "leitmotif" is also a recurring musical theme associated within a particular piece of music with a particular person, place or idea. The album is currently out of print.
Leitmotif was recorded in ten days.
Interscope Records re-released Leitmotif unchanged from its original version, both in the recording and in the booklet's text, essentially duplicating the band's original, independently released demo.
The newer case features the uniform brown paper package with white text as pictured, to the upper right, with only the phrase "We live like penguins in the desert. Why can't we live like tribes?" printed on the inner sleeve; a phrase used in the lyrics to Triangle on Dredg's next album, El Cielo. The older case features the cover pictured, to the lower right, as well as more brown and blue topographical photos on the case and the booklet which are similar to the cover. Aside from the difference in artwork, the two versions of Leitmotif remain nearly identical.
Climbing, building me up, tearing me down
Lifted back up we are climbing
All of this time
Drifting right back to the ground
Building me up, tearing me down
Lifted back up we are climbing
All of this time
Drifting right back to the ground
Suddenly, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly
Questioning and saying
Our opinions, they're failing
They're constantly changing
Our ignorance, remaining
We're hoping and waiting
We're living, but dying
While trying to find out
My meaning isn't planned out
Come to the conclusion
Might as well be an illusion
We're trying to find out
I did nothing, but shut out