leitmotif
noun
[ ˈlʌɪtməʊˌtiːf ]
• a recurrent theme throughout a musical or literary composition, associated with a particular person, idea, or situation.
• "there are two leitmotifs in his score marking the heroine and her Fairy Godmother"
Origin:
late 19th century: from German Leitmotiv, from leit- ‘leading’ (from leiten ‘to lead’) + Motiv ‘motive’.