Richard Wagner and Film Music: the Role of the Leitmotif
The article gives an overview of the leitmotif, as the principal composing technique of musical drama in the works of the late Romantic German composer Richard Wagner who reformed the opera genre. The role of the leitmotif in the drama (story) development context, as well as the use of it as a creative principle are defined. The ability of music to establish psychological associative relationships that characterize emotional changes of actors is also defined. In practice, to get a deeper insight into the importance of the leitmotif, the film by Vytautas Zalakevicius Adam wants to be a man is invoked, The music author is Eduardas Balsys, who, using the principle of leitmotifs in the plot drama, constructs emotional integrity and multiplicity in the film. By this example the article concludes that Richard Wagner's leitmotifs system and philosophy are directly applicable to film music.
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Key Words: Richard Wagner, Vytautas Žalakevičius, leitmotiv, Gesamtkunstwerk.
