motif

In Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, a four-note figure becomes the most important motif of the work, extended melodically and harmonically to provide the main theme of the first movement. Play Two note opening motif from Jean Sibelius's Finlandia. Play Motif from Machaut's Mass, notable for its length of seven notes.Play Motif from Ravel's String Quartet, first movement. Play

In music, a motif (/moʊˈtiːf/ ) or motive is a short musical idea, salient recurring figure, musical fragment, or succession of notes that has some special importance in or is characteristic of a composition. The motif is the smallest structural unit possessing thematic identity.