A musical motif is a short, recurring musical idea or theme that is often used to represent a particular emotion, character, or concept within a piece of music. It can be a melody, rhythm, or harmony that helps to unify a composition and make it more memorable. Composers use motifs to create connections between different sections of a work, enhancing the listener's experience. In classical music, motifs are frequently found in the works of composers like Ludwig van Beethoven and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In film scores, motifs can represent characters or ideas, such as John Williams' use of motifs in the Star Wars series to signify different characters or themes.