History Main / ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack

* In ''Film/{{Titanic 1997}}'', most tracks that don't play during the iceberg collision or the sinking are mostly variations on either the "Southampton" Theme or the Love Theme.

* The [=PS2=] ''VideoGame/SpyHunter'' games use various rock and techno remixes of the ''Series/PeterGunn'' theme.

This trope is a frequent occurrence in video games, as well as Western animated productions (thanks to composers during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation having heavy classical and jazz influence).

A soundtrack trope. Basically, the application/adaptation of the musical form ThemeAndVariations to a soundtrack. Alternatively, this is the trope RecurringRiff, [[ExaggeratedTrope But More]]--enough to basically dominate the soundtrack. This is when you hear said recurring riff all over the soundtrack; many of the tracks are effectively variations on this "theme" of the work.

Happens slightly more often if the work has a catchy theme song motif that can be worked into the soundtrack. This trope is a frequent occurrence in western animated productions, especially from the 1960s up to at least the 1990s.

This trope is also like a highly elaborate and very much expanded version of VariableMix.

** Most songs in ''VideoGame/KurbyAndTheForgottenLand'' that aren't remixes of themes of previous games usually contain two motifs: Waddle Dee Town's theme and the theme of the first level.

* Most songs in ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' that aren't remixes of previous themes in the series feature the Noble Haltmann, the main theme of the corporation that serves as the game's villains, as their backbone.

* ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'': Aside from every film after the first one featuring a remix of said film's "Hello Zepp" as a [[ClimacticMusic climactic]] {{Leitmotif}}, much of the soundtrack (especially in tense scenes) involves the constant recycling of compositions and specific sounds to create new music.

* The ''Film/GalaxyQuest'' soundtrack was largely based on the [[ShowWithinAShow show's]] theme InUniverse.

* Most of ''VideoGame/OriAndTheBlindForest'''s soundtrack uses variations of the Spirit Tree's or Ori's {{leitmotif}}s. TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon, Mount Horu, uses different variations of its central theme for each of the side "puzzle" rooms. In the [[BonusDungeon Black Root Burrows]] from the [[UpdatedRerelease Definitive Edition]], which explores the previously untold backstory of Naru, the music tracks are appropriately mainly based on "Naru, Embracing the Light".

* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'''s soundtrack has many pieces with the same melody as the main theme (note, not the same as the OP), but at different tempos and with different sets of instruments.

* ''Anime/{{Stratos 4}}'': A number of tracks, including one labeled "Mikaze's Theme" (for the lead main character), that all share a tune. At the last episode, this is revealed to be the tune of the second ending theme (which is used for the ends of whole seasons).

** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'': The Last Spartan, the Arbiter's Theme, High Charity, and the Delta Halo theme.
** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'': Finish The Fight, Farthest Outpost, and numerous motifs from the previous games.

* Many of the tunes in ''VideoGame/SyphonFilterTheOmegaStrain'', such as Logan's Theme, Carthage Mall (Action), St Cetteo Square, Belaya Vezha (Action), Taherir Palace, etc. are variations of the main title theme. The [=PS1=] installments also have their own recurring themes.