TExES Music EC-12 (177) Practice Exam 2026 - Free TExES Music Certification Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term associated with Wagner's later operas that refers to recurring musical themes is "leitmotifs." Wagner developed this concept as a way to musically represent characters, ideas, or emotions throughout his operas. Each leitmotif is a short musical phrase that is associated with a specific element of the story, helping to create a deeper narrative connection and emotional resonance. This technique not only enhances the dramatic structure of the opera but also enables the audience to experience the narrative on a more profound level as these themes recur and evolve throughout the work.

The other choices do not convey the same meaning: "Chorus lines" refer to the lines sung by a chorus in a musical or opera, while "ostinato" describes a repeated musical phrase or rhythm, though it is not specific to Wagner's operas. "Counterpoint" involves the relationship between voices that are harmonically independent yet sound harmonious when played together, and is more about the texture of the music rather than recurring themes related to characters or ideas.