Final answer:
In music, a repeating figure used to unify compositions by Stravinsky and Debussy is known as a motif. It's a recurring element that provides structure and cohesion, serving a similar role to patterns in visual arts.
Step-by-step explanation:
A repeating figure that serves to unify works by composers such as Stravinsky and Debussy is commonly referred to as a motif. A motif in music is a recognizable and recurring element that often holds significance within the composition. Much like pattern is important in visual arts for unity and variety, in music, a motif can be a short musical idea, a melody, a rhythm, or even a harmonic progression that repeats throughout a piece, providing a sense of cohesion and structure. Composers use motifs to create a narrative or to evoke specific emotions and themes throughout their musical works.
The Russian composer Igor Stravinsky utilized motifs to great effect in works like 'The Rite of Spring,' which uses rhythm and repetition to provide unity in its avant-garde callback to ancient rituals. Similarly, French composer Claude Debussy implemented motifs in pieces like 'La Mer', evoking the ebb and flow of the sea with melodic patterns and harmonic textures.
Motifs, through their persistent recurrence, help listeners identify and understand the continuity and structure of a musical piece, contributing to the overall unity and composition of the work.