1. Motives are like characters in a story

In what ways do we describe characters in a story? How they look? How they act? Their goals? How they relate to others?

Varèse, Poème Électronique (1958)

2. some motives are main characters

What makes a main character?

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, mvt. 1 (c. 1808)

3. We get to know main characters through repetition and variation

In what ways can motives be varied?

Mozart, Piano sonata No. 16, K. 545 (1788) Listen to motives beginning each phrase, then skip to 1:48 to hear motives transformed in the “development” section.

Wishart, Tongues of Fire (1993) A very striking motive, varied in different ways (just listen through 1:10 for now).