Listened to Alan Silvestri's score to "Stuart Little" when this cool device caught my ear. In the original it was more of a phrygian feel and no "real" melody below it. Here's what I liked about it:
1) The rhythmic bed you get from combining the strings and harp, especially with the measured tremolos in the strings. (the piano also helps a lot, basically working as a pedal/ostinato since it's on the same note throughout)
2) How easy it was to apply it to another tonality. Since it's basically a scale fragment harmonized in 6ths you really get a sense of the tonality quickly.