The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LEITMOTIV
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
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More clues leading to the result LEITMOTIV
- Heard fair grounds briefly repeating theme
- Echo in written works? Check four to find it perhaps
- The sound of fairgrounds: pointless theme
- The French reason endlessly about it – a recurring theme
- With title cut, movie to get reworked theme music?
- Musical device ruining movie title that’s unfinished
- Fifty-four keeping time to rousing musical theme
- Transferable vote limit? It’s a recurring theme!
- Recurring musical theme spoiled movie title almost
- Almost as it happens, keeping erratic time to recurrent theme
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Echo/ in written works?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case echo/ in written works? = leitmotiv.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LEITMOTIV mean?
LEITMOTIV noun- A melodic theme associated with a particular character, place, thing or idea in an opera.
- A recurring theme.