a leitmotif or leitmotiv 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 "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."